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A. Space biomedicine is a relatively new area of research both in the USA and in Europe. Its main objectives are to study the effects of space travel on the human body, identifying the most critical medical problems, and finding solutions to those problems. Space biomedicine centers are receiving increasing direct support from NASA and/or the European Space Agency (ESA).

B. This involvement of NASA and the ESA reflects growing concern that the feasibility of travel to other planets, and beyond, is no longer limited by engineering constraints but by what the human body can actually withstand. The discovery of ice on Mars, for instance, means that there is now no necessity to design and develop a spacecraft large and powerful enough to transport the vast amounts of water needed to sustain the crew throughout journeys that may last many years. Without the necessary protection and medical treatment, however, their bodies would be devastated by the unremittingly hostile environment of space.

C. The most obvious physical changes undergone by people in zero gravity are essentially harmless; in some cases, they are even amusing. The blood and other fluids are no longer dragged down towards the feet by the gravity of Earth, so they accumulate higher up in the body, creating what is sometimes called ‘fat face`, together with the contrasting ‘chicken legs’ syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.

D. Much more serious are the unseen consequences after months or years in space. With no gravity, there is less need for a sturdy skeleton to support the body, with the result that the bones weaken, releasing calcium into the bloodstream. This extra calcium can overload the kidneys, leading ultimately to renal failure. Muscles too lose strength through lack of use. The heart becomes smaller, losing the power to pump oxygenated blood to all parts of the body, while the lungs lose the capacity to breathe fully. The digestive system becomes less efficient, a weakened immune system is increasingly unable to prevent diseases and the high levels of solar and cosmic radiation can cause various forms of cancer.

E. To make matters worse, a wide range of medical difficulties can arise in the case of an accident or serious illness when the patient is millions of kilometers from Earth. There is simply not enough room available inside a space vehicle to include all the equipment from a hospital’s casualty unit, some of which would not work properly in space anyway. Even basic things such as a drip depend on gravity to function, while standard resuscitation techniques become ineffective if sufficient weight cannot be applied. The only solution seems to be to create extremely small medical tools and ‘smart` devices that can, for example, diagnose and treat internal injuries using ultrasound. The cost of designing and producing this kind of equipment is bound to be, well, astronomical.

F. Such considerations have led some to question the ethics of investing huge sums of money to help a handful of people who, after all, are willingly risking their own health in outer space, when so much needs to be done a lot closer to home. It is now clear, however, that every problem of space travel has a parallel problem on Earth that will benefit from the knowledge gained and the skills developed from space biomedical research. For instance, the very difficulty of treating astronauts in space has led to rapid progress in the field of telemedicine, which in turn has brought about developments that enable surgeons to communicate with patients in inaccessible parts of the world. To take another example, systems invented to sterilize wastewater onboard spacecraft could be used by emergency teams to filter contaminated water at the scene of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. In the same way, miniature monitoring equipment, developed to save weight in space capsules, will eventually become tiny monitors that patients on Earth can wear without discomfort wherever they go.

G. Nevertheless, there is still one major obstacle to carrying out studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without going to the enormous expense of actually working in space. To simulate conditions in zero gravity, one tried and tested method is to work underwater, but the space biomedicine centers are also looking at other ideas. In one experiment, researchers study the weakening of bones that results from prolonged inactivity. This would involve volunteers staying in bed for three months, but the center concerned is confident there should be no great difficulty in finding people willing to spend twelve weeks lying down.AII in the name of science, of course.

Questions 1-5

Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs A-G. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E and G from the list of headings below. Write the correct member (i-x) in boxes 1—5 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

i. The problem of dealing with emergencies in space ii. How space biomedicine can help patients on Earth iii. Why accidents are so common in outer space iv. What is space biomedicine? v. The psychological problems of astronauts vi. Conducting space biomedical research on Earth vii. The internal damage caused to the human body by space travel viii. How space biomedicine First began ix. The visible effects of space travel on the human body x. Why space biomedicine is now necessary

Example Paragraph A Answer iv 1 i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x Paragraph B Answer: x 2 i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x Paragraph C Answer: ix 3 i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x Paragraph D Answer: vii 4 i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x Paragraph E Answer: i Example Paragraph F Answer ii 5 i ii iii iv v vi vii viii ix x Paragraph G Answer: vi

Questions 6-7

Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer. 6. Where, apart from Earth, can space travelers find water?  6 Answer: (ON/FROM) MARS 7. What happens to human legs during space travel?  7 Answer: THEY BECOME THINNER

Questions 8-12

Do the following statements agree with the writer’s views in Reading Passage?  Write YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer NO, if the state does not agree with the views of the writer NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this in the passage

8 YES NO NOT GIVEN The obstacles to going far into space are now medical, not technological. Answer: YES 9 YES NO NOT GIVEN Astronauts cannot survive more than two years in space. Answer: NOT GIVEN 10 YES NO NOT GIVEN It is morally wrong to spend so much money on space biomedicine. Answer: NO 11 YES NO NOT GIVEN Some kinds of surgery are more successful when performed in space. Answer: NOT GIVEN 12 YES NO NOT GIVEN Space biomedical research can only be done in space. Answer: NO

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Complete the table below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer

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Space Travel And Health- IELTS Reading Answers

Kasturika Samanta

11 min read

Updated On Mar 01, 2024

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Space Travel And Health- IELTS Reading Answers

Recent IELTS Reading Test with Answers - Free PDF

In the Academic Reading practice passage, “ Space Travel and Health” , there are various question types, each of which are asked in the IELTS Reading exam. Ideally, you should not spend more than 20 minutes on a passage. Let’s see how easy this passage is for you and if you’re able to make it in 20 minutes. If not, try more IELTS reading practice tests from IELTSMaterial.com.

Reading Passage

Space travel and health.

Space Travel And Health

Questions of SPACE TRAVEL AND HEALTH

Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs A-G. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E and G from the list of headings below. Write the correct member (i-x) in boxes 1—5 on your answer sheet.

List of Headings

  • The problem of dealing with emergencies in space
  • How space biomedicine can help patients on Earth

iii. Why accidents are so common in outer space

  • What is space biomedicine?
  • The psychological problems of astronauts
  • Conducting space biomedical research on Earth

vii. The internal damage caused to the human body by space travel

viii. How space biomedicine First began

  • The visible effects of space travel on the human body
  • Why space biomedicine is now necessary

Example Paragraph A Answer iv

  • Paragraph B
  • Paragraph C
  • Paragraph D
  • Paragraph E

Example Paragraph F Answer ii

  • Paragraph G

Questions 6 and 7

6 Where, apart from Earth, can space travelers find water? ………….

7 What happens to human legs during space travel? ……………..

Questions 8-12

Do the following statements agree with the writer’s views in Reading Passage 1? Write

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer

NO, if the state does not agree with the views of the writer

NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this in the passage

8 The obstacles to going far into space are now medical, not technological.

9 Astronauts cannot survive more than two years in space.

10 It is morally wrong to spend so much money on space biomedicine.

11 Some kinds of surgery are more successful when performed in space.

12 Space biomedical research can only be done in space.

Questions 13-14

Research area

Application in space

Application on Earth

Telemedicine

treating astronauts

13 ……….. in remote areas

Sterilization

sterilizing wastewater

14 …………….in disaster zones

Miniaturization

saving weight

wearing small monitors comfortably

Reading Answer 

1 Answer:  x

Question type:  Matching Headings

Answer location:  Paragraph B

Answer explanation:  Paragraph B illustrates, “This involvement of  NASA and the ESA reflects growing concern that the feasibility of travel to other planets, and beyond, is no longer limited by engineering constraints but by what the human body can actually withstand. The discovery of ice on Mars,  for instance, means  that there is now no necessity to design and develop a spacecraft large and powerful enough to transport the vast amounts of water needed to sustain the crew throughout journeys that may last many years. Without the necessary protection and medical treatment, however, their bodies would be devastated by the unremittingly hostile environment of space.”  We can deduce from these lines that the feasibility of traveling to other planets is no longer confined by engineering constraints but by what the human body can actually withstand. However, in the last line of the paragraph, it is revealed that without necessary protection and medical treatment, the bodies will be destroyed by the hostile environment of space. As a result, space biomedicine is very important. Thus, the answer is x.

2 Answer:  ix

Answer location:  Paragraph C

Answer explanation:  The initial lines of paragraph C state that the  most obvious physical changes undergone by people in zero gravity are essentially harmless ; in some cases, they are even  amusing . The  blood and other fluids are no longer dragged down towards the feet by the gravity of Earth , so they  accumulate higher up in the body,  creating what is sometimes called  ‘fat face`, together with the contrasting ‘chicken legs’ syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.  These lines suggest that the physical changes of a person in zero gravity are harmless and are sometimes amusing too. Thus, it is clear that paragraph C explains the visible effects of space travel on the human body. Therefore, the answer is ix.

3 Answer:  vii

Answer location:  Paragraph D

Answer explanation:  Paragraph D states that much more  serious are the unseen consequences after months or years in space.  With no gravity, there is less need for a  sturdy skeleton to support the body , with the result that the  bones weaken, releasing calcium into the bloodstream . This extra calcium can  overload the kidneys, leading ultimately to renal failure . Muscles too lose strength through lack of use. The heart becomes  smaller, losing the power to pump oxygenated blood to all parts of the body, while the lungs lose the capacity to breathe fully.  The  digestive system  becomes  less efficient , a weakened  immune system is increasingly unable to prevent diseases  and the high levels of  solar and cosmic radiation can cause various forms of cancer . We understand that paragraph D elucidates the possible effects and diseases that a human body living in space would have. As a result, the paragraph discusses the internal damage caused to the human body by space travel. Thus, the answer is vii.

4 Answer:  i

Answer location:  Paragraph E

Answer explanation:  In paragraph E, it is mentioned that to make matters worse, a wide range of  medical difficulties can arise in the case of an accident or serious illness when the patient is millions of kilometers from Earth.  There is simply not  enough room  available inside a  space vehicle to include all the equipment from a hospital’s casualty unit , some of which would not work  properly in space anyway . Even basic things such as  a drip depend on gravity to function, while standard resuscitation techniques become ineffective if sufficient weight cannot be applied.  The only solution seems to be to create extremely  small medical tools and ‘smart` devices that can , for example,  diagnose and treat internal injuries using ultrasound . The cost of  designing and producing this kind of equipment is bound to be, well, astronomical.  These lines indicate the problems of dealing with emergencies in space, for instance, even a drip depends on gravity to function while resuscitation techniques are ineffective if weight is not applied. Moreover, there’s no room for more medical equipment in the space. Thus, the answer is i.

5 Answer:  vi

Answer location:  Paragraph G

Answer explanation:  Paragraph G states the fact that  nevertheless, there is still one major obstacle to carrying out studies into the effects of space travel :  how to do so without going to the enormous expense of actually working in space . To  simulate conditions in zero gravity ,  one tried and tested method is to work underwater , but  the space biomedicine centers are also looking at other ideas . In one experiment, researchers study the  weakening of bones that results from prolonged inactivity . This would involve  volunteers staying in bed for three months , but the center is confident there should be no  great difficulty in finding people willing to spend twelve weeks lying down . AII in the name of science, of course. We understand from these lines that conducting space biomedical research on Earth is difficult as it’d be challenging to do the research without actually visiting the space. As a result, space biomedicine centers are looking for other alternative ideas. Thus, the answer is vi.

6 Answer:  (on/ from) Mars

Question type:  Short Answer Question

Answer location:  Paragraph B, line 2

Answer explanation:  The 2nd line of paragraph B states that the  discovery of ice on Mars,  for instance, means that there is now  no necessity to design and develop a spacecraft large and powerful enough to transport the vast amounts of water  needed to  sustain the crew throughout journeys that may last many years.  We can deduce from these lines that the discovery of ice on Mars reflected that there’s no necessity of developing or designing a spacecraft to transport water required to sustain the crew. Therefore, space travelers can find water on Mars apart from the Earth. Thus, the answer is (in/on) Mars.

7 Answer:  they become thinner

Answer location:  Paragraph C, last line

Answer explanation:  Paragraph C illustrates the  obvious effects of space travel on the human body.  The last line of the paragraph reveals that the  blood and other fluids are no longer dragged down  towards the feet by the gravity of Earth, so they  accumulate higher up in the body,  creating what is sometimes called  ‘fat face`,  together with the  contrasting ‘chicken legs’ syndrome  as the  lower limbs become thinner . Thus, it is evident that human legs become thinner during space travel. So, the answer is they become thinner.

8 Answer:  Yes

Question type:  Yes/ No/ Not Given

Answer location:  Paragraph A, line 2

Answer explanation:  The 2nd line of paragraph A states that its  main objectives are to study the effects of space travel on the human body, identify the most critical medical problems, and find solutions to those problems . These lines indicate that the primary aim of studying the effects of space travel on the human body is to identify important medical problems and find appropriate solutions to these problems. Thus, the statement agrees with the information, so, the answer is Yes.

9 Answer:  Not Given

Answer location:  Paragraph F

Answer explanation:  We find a reference for Astronauts in Paragraph F, where it is mentioned that the  very difficulty of treating astronauts in space has led to rapid progress in the field of telemedicine,  which in turn has brought about  developments that enable surgeons to communicate with patients in inaccessible parts of the  world. These lines suggest that the difficulty of treating Astronauts in space has resulted in the progress of telemedicine. However, there’s no reference to the fact that Astronauts survive for more than two years in space. Thus, the answer is Not Given.

10 Answer:  No

Answer explanation:  The introductory lines of paragraph F states that such  considerations have led some to question the ethics of investing huge sums of money  to help a  handful of people who, after all, are willingly risking their own health in outer space , when so many needs to be done a lot closer to home. These lines suggest that considerations have resulted in the ethics of investing huge amounts of money to help people who are willing to risk their own health in outer space. It is clear that people are willing to spend money on space biomedicine. Thus, the statement contradicts the information, so, the answer is No.

11 Answer:  Not Given

Answer location:  Paragraph E, line 2

Answer explanation:  We know paragraph E explains the problems of dealing with emergencies in space. The 2nd line of paragraph E state, that there is  simply not enough room available inside a space vehicle to include all the equipment from a hospital’s casualty unit , some of which  would not work properly in space anyway.  Even basic things such as a  drip depend on gravity to function, while standard resuscitation techniques become ineffective if sufficient weight cannot be applied . The only solution seems to be to create extremely  small medical tools and ‘smart` devices  that can, for example, diagnose and treat internal injuries using ultrasound. These lines suggest how to deal with problems in space. It is stated that there’s no room to include much medical equipment in space, some of which wouldn’t work. Therefore, it is not mentioned anywhere in the paragraph that surgery is successful when performed in space. Thus, the answer is Not Given.

12 Answer:  No

Answer explanation:  Paragraph G explains conducting space biomedical research on Earth. The initial lines suggest that nevertheless, there is still one  major obstacle to carrying out studies into the effects of space travel :  how to do so without going to the enormous expense of actually working in space.  To simulate conditions in zero gravity,  one tried and tested method is to work underwater , but the  space biomedicine centers are also looking at other ideas.  We can deduce from these lines that there’s another tried and tested method of conducting space biomedical research, which is to work underwater. However, space biomedicine centers are looking for other alternatives. Therefore, the statement contradicts the information, so, the answer is No.

13 Answer:  communicate with patients

Question type:  Table Completion

Answer explanation:  Paragraph F illustrates an example stating that  the very difficulty of treating astronauts in space has led to rapid progress in the field of telemedicine, which in turn has brought about developments that enable surgeons to communicate with patients in inaccessible parts of the world.  These lines indicate that the difficulty of treating astronauts in space has resulted in the progress of telemedicine. It has brought developments that allow surgeons to communicate with patients even in inaccessible areas. Thus, the answer is to Communicate with patients.

14 Answer:  filter contaminated water

Answer explanation:  Another example of sterilization can be found in paragraph F, which states that the systems invented to  sterilize wastewater onboard spacecraft  could be used by  emergency teams to filter contaminated water at the scene of natural disaster s such as floods and earthquakes. These lines indicate that systems were invented to sterilize wastewater, which could be used by the emergency teams to filter contaminated water in disaster zones. Thus, the answer is to filter contaminated water.

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Kasturika Samanta

Kasturika Samanta

Kasturika is a professional Content Writer with over three years of experience as an English language teacher. Her understanding of English language requirements, as set by foreign universities, is enriched by her interactions with students and educators. Her work is a fusion of extensive knowledge of SEO practices and up-to-date guidelines. This enables her to produce content that not only informs but also engages IELTS aspirants. Her passion for exploring new horizons has driven her to achieve new heights in her learning journey.

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- Saber Karmous [ Amazon ]

Have Space Suit-Will Travel by Robert Heinlein

Have Space Suit-Will Travel , Robert Heinlein, 1958. Loved it as a kid. I tried to make my own space suit out of some coveralls and a fish bowl. Looking back, I'd have to say the results were mixed.

- mwhite66 [ Amazon ]

Titan by Stephen Baxter

This book is a personal favorite of mine in the "all things interplanetary and near-real tech" department. It's not a very optimistic book, but it really stuck with me. There was a core theme about the forces of ignorance and militarism corrupting, and ultimately prevailing over, the "old school" people of NASA that still believe in science and human advancement that resonated with me. It wasn't the voyage of the central characters (to Titan, using re-purposed Shuttle technology) that I found memorable, it was the way the world deteriorated after they left. A Christian fundamentalist was in the White House, science education was pushed out of schools, mysticism and superstition came to dominate everyday life, and by the time the astronauts completed their years-long voyage, only a few people cared enough to watch the landing on a grainy web stream. In the end, the worst nihilistic impulses of humanity are on display at large scale back on Earth, and at tiny, claustrophobic scale among the remaining astronauts. Baxter has always had an unhappy view of human nature, but the plausibility of his future was what really rocked my world. I still read it about once a year.

- Ark [ Amazon ]

Solaris by Stanisław Lem

Not much space traveling going on, but a lot of psychological tricks played on humans by a planet that is believed to be one entire living organism. Ultimately shows how little we can hope to understand the universe as flawed human beings.

- SweetCuppinCakes [ Amazon ]

The Night's Dawn Trilogy by Peter F. Hamilton

Epic, grand scale, planetary colonization, "Speciesization" of humanity across space, warfare, the afterlife; space opera at its best, and a lot of fun.

- tampa2020 [ Amazon ]

The Mote In God's Eye by Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven

If I'm feeling serious, it's the Mote In God's Eye. A great hard SF series. But the book I have read, probably more than any other, is the Hitchhiker's Guide It's been my constant companion since I first read it in 1980, when I was ten years old.

- thisusernameforsale [Amazon]

The Lost Fleet by John G. Hemry

Not sure if this exactly counts as being about Space Travel, but The Lost Fleet series is one of my favorite Scifi novels I've had the pleasure of reading. One of the few books I've read that included visual lag based on the distance of a target in space.

- sam2795 [ Amazon ]

Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds

I just finished reading the whole series. Fantastic hard sci-fi space opera. Reynolds takes time dilation into account by having the story lines take place decades apart until they all "catch up" to each other.

- fire_marshal , recommended by Soused [ Amazon ]

Vacuum Diagrams by Stephen Baxter

The Zeelee Saga is probably one of the most scientifically accurate portrayals of space travel and aliens that I've ever read.

- Wonderdog [ Amazon ]

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

I was hoping someone was going to suggest this book. I think The Sparrow and Children of God are two of the best books I've read in recent years, and I read a lot of books and a lot of science fiction. I suppose these books would fit more under the umbrella of "First Contact" books, but there is space travel, and the characters, the writing, the premise, the philosophy/religion are all just superb.

- Gillian , recommended by Tenno [ Amazon ]

The Gap Cycle by Stephen R. Donaldson

Examines psychological effects of FTL jumps. Also very realistic descriptions about air scrubbers and gravity drives etc. This is not to mention a gripping, twisting, plot. Great books. There are 5 of them.

- Feyd Carroll [ Amazon ]

Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro

Gotta be Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro . Picked it up in a used bookstore, and I've since real loads of books by her. She's a physicist that has great characters, storylines and believable science. She might be a rock star too ... not sure. That image is linked from her website.

- owensa42 [ Amazon ]

The Genesis Quest and Second Genesis by Donald Moffitt

Best is hard to say, but one I don't see in the comments so far is The Genesis Quest and Second Genesis by Donald Moffitt. I don't think it is a spoiler to include this from the book description on Amazon: After intercepting a message from Earth, Nar scientists have learned the secret of human life. The alien species understands everything about human technology and culture and uses this knowledge to build on each breakthrough until they succeed in re-creating humans. There is a lot more to it than that, and it deals with a lot of interesting concepts.

- J.R. Jenkins [ Amazon ]

Raft by Stephen Baxter

So many great choices, but I just love Raft by Stephen Baxter. It takes place in strange universe where trees are uses as transportation and gravity is a billion times stronger than our universe. I recommend it highly!

- Gavin S. [ Amazon ]

The Star Web by George Zebrowski

The Star Web - really old pulpy sci-fi, but having to first of all figure out they're ON a an ancient ship, and then how fast they've moving, and how to get home... Fantastic read, and really reminds me of Stargate Universe, as the ship may have telepathic influences, is ancient, and recharges inside stars.

- apronboobsface [ Amazon ]

Hyperion by Dan Simmons

This probably isn't the best I've read but it has some pretty cool sections and concepts that make it a really good read. One cool plot line revolves around a traveler visiting a lover on another planet but she ages way quicker because of his faster-than-light travel.

- SaturdayMorning [ Amazon ]

Ursula le Guin's Hainish Series

I'm going to sound very strange here, but my favorites were always Ursula le Guin's Hainish series. You're probably thinking that this is a stupid choice because space travel is very rarely (if at all) a part of the stories. That's why I love them... the absence of writing about the space travel makes these the travel itself be what it could only be for us in the early 21st century: beyond our imagination.

- sckinjctn [ Amazon ]

Old Man's War by John Scalzi

It's a story concerning what happens, when we finally reach out in the galaxy only to find out that a whole lot of other creatures beat us to it, and now we have to fight for every inch of what we find. Sort of. At the same time it's also a story of how you as an American gets teased with another life after life. When you reach 75 you can sign up for basically a space marine program, governed by the private cooperation who controls the only way man can leave earth. CDF promise you that you will get a new life beyond the stars and that's the promise, the protagonist of Old man's war travels for. It's part of a series and the two first sequels are equally great but the first novel will always hold a special part in my heart. It combines the dreams of "what will happen, when we finally get away from here" with some truly great writing that never alienates the reader and tells a very human tale, if that makes sense. (English isn't my native language so I apologize for every single error. I hope it can be read without a lot of trouble.) TLDR: Old Mans War. Read it.

- pkoch [ Amazon ]

The Mars Trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson

To be sure, a masterwork about space travel and colonization. Hell, a not insignificant chunk of Red Mars alone is just about getting to Mars.

- Patrick Halloran [ Amazon ]

Anathem by Neal Stephenson

Anathem by Neal Stephenson not only includes an exciting space travel sequence but themes tied in with quantum mechanics, parallel universes and a heaping dose of philosophy.

- Patrick [ Amazon ]

Best space books for 2023

Space Books Recommended Reading

There are plenty of great books out there about space — so many, in fact, that it can feel a little overwhelming to figure out where to start, whether searching for a perfect gift or your next engrossing read. So the editors and writers at Space.com have put together a list of their favorite books about the universe. These are the books that we love — the ones that informed us, entertained us and inspired us. We hope they'll do the same for you!

We've divided the books into five categories, which each have their own dedicated pages. On this page, we feature books we're reading now and books we've recently read, which we will update regularly. Click to see the best of:

  • Space books for kids
  • Astronomy and astrophysics
  • Spaceflight and space history
  • Space photography
  • Science fiction

We hope there's something on our lists for every reader of every age. We're also eager to hear about your favorite space books, so please leave your suggestions in the comments, and let us know why you love them. You can see our ongoing Space Books coverage here .

What we're reading:

Why you can trust Space.com Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test and review products.

"The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy"

by Moiya McTier

The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy$27now $23.28 from Amazon

The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy | <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FMilky-Way-Autobiography-Our-Galaxy%2Fdp%2F1538754150%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank"> $27 now $23.28 from Amazon

Astronomers have written the Milky Way's story many times over; scientists have traced violent collisions in its past and future and peered into the supermassive black hole lurking at its heart. But if our galaxy could tell us its story, what would it say? Astrophysicist and folklorist Moiya McTier tells that story in her delightful new book, "The Milky Way: An Autobiography of Our Galaxy." McTier's Milky Way makes for a prickly narrator as the book zips through everything from the formation of the universe through the ways scientists think it might come to an end. ~ Meghan Bartels

<a href="https://www.space.com/milky-way-autobiography-book-author-interview" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">Read an interview with Moiya McTier <a href="https://www.space.com/milky-way-autobiography-moiya-mctier-excerpt" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">Read an excerpt from "The Milky Way"

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FMilky-Way-Autobiography-Our-Galaxy%2Fdp%2F1538754150%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank"> Buy "The Milky Way" on Amazon

"A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman"

by Lindy Elkins-Tanton

A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman$29.99now $22.49 from Amazon

A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman | <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FPortrait-Scientist-Young-Woman%2Fdp%2F0063086905%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank"> $29.99 now $22.49 from Amazon

Lindy Elkins-Tanton of Arizona State University is the principal investigator of NASA's Psyche mission, a spacecraft designed to explore the asteroid of the same name, which appears to be primarily made of metal. But the path she followed to get to that position is full of intriguing side trips she shares in her new memoir, "A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman." The book covers everything from her experience conducting field research in Siberia to her work supporting healthy culture in the ivory tower. ~ Meghan Bartels

<a href="https://www.space.com/portrait-scientist-young-woman-book-interview" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">Read an interview with Lindy Elkins-Tanton

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FPortrait-Scientist-Young-Woman%2Fdp%2F0063086905%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank"> Buy "A Portrait of the Scientist as a Young Woman" on Amazon

"Horizons: The Global Origins of Modern Science"

by James Poskett

Horizons: The Global Origins of Modern Science,

Horizons: The Global Origins of Modern Science," James Poskett | <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FHorizons-Global-Origins-Modern-Science%2Fdp%2F0358251796%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank"> $30 now 20.99 from Amazon

What if everything we're taught about the history of astronomy and physics is wrong? In his new book, "Horizons: The Global Origins of Modern Science," James Poskett, a historian of science and technology, focuses on how science has always been a global endeavor and how that story was overshadowed by a biased Westernized version. Astronomy and physics play key roles in the story he tells, with cameos from key figures such as Ptolemy and Isaac Newton, although the book spans several scientific fields, including natural history and evolution as well. ~ Meghan Bartels

<a href="https://www.space.com/horizons-book-global-origins-modern-science-interview" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">Read an interview with James Poskett

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FHorizons-Global-Origins-Modern-Science%2Fdp%2F0358251796%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank"> Buy "Horizons" on Amazon

"Space Forces: A Critical History of Life in Outer Space"

by Fred Scharmen

Space Forces: A Critical History of Life in Outer Space | $26.95now $21.91 from Amazon

Space Forces: A Critical History of Life in Outer Space | <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FSpace-Forces-Critical-History-Outer%2Fdp%2F1786637359%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank"> $26.95 now $21.91 from Amazon

Like plenty of kids, Fred Scharmen was fascinated by the depictions he saw of what life in space might look like. But Scharmen grew up to be an architect and urban designer, which taught him to see all the silent assumptions, fears and hopes that were hidden in those images. In "Space Forces," Scharmen examines seven different visions of life in space, exploring the cultural beliefs they betray and asking us to think more critically about why we want to go to space and how to translate our values into exploration. ~ Meghan Bartels

<a href="https://www.space.com/space-forces-book-fred-scharmen-interview" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">Read an interview with Fred Scharmen <a href="https://www.space.com/space-forces-fred-scharmen-excerpt" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">Read an excerpt from "Space Forces"

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FSpace-Forces-Critical-History-Outer%2Fdp%2F1786637359%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank"> Buy "Space Forces" on Amazon

"Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet ― And Our Mission to Protect It"

by Nicole Stott

Back To Earth $30 now $20.41 on Amazon.&nbsp;

Back To Earth <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FBack-Earth-Planet_And-Mission-Protect%2Fdp%2F1541675045%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> $30 now $20.41 on Amazon . 

Retired NASA astronaut Nicole Stott is one of the fewer than 600 people to have reached space, and she hopes the stories of that experience will inspire readers to take a planetary perspective on their daily lives. She offers new philosophies for living on Earth informed by her experience in orbit and melds her experiences in space with stories of people on Earth who act on the same value she sees as so crucial to spaceflight. ~ Meghan Bartels

<a href="https://www.space.com/astronaut-nicole-stott-back-to-earth-interview" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">Read an interview with Nicole Stott <a href="https://www.space.com/astronaut-nicole-stott-back-to-earth-excerpt" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">Read an excerpt from "Back to Earth"

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FBack-Earth-Planet_And-Mission-Protect%2Fdp%2F1541675045%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank"> Buy "Back to Earth" on Amazon

"The Apollo Murders" (Mulholland Books, 2021) 

By Col. Chris Hadfield

The Apollo Murders $28 now $14.63 on Amazon.&nbsp;

The Apollo Murders <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FApollo-Murders-Colonel-Chris-Hadfield%2Fdp%2F0316264539%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> $28 now $14.63 on Amazon . 

New York Times bestselling author, YouTube star, international speaker, and popular Twitter personality, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, has a creative eye on the moon in his first dive into fiction, "The Apollo Murders." It's a rousing adventure placed amid the tense days of the U.S.-Soviet Union space race in the 1970s following America's lunar landings. The alternative history is set in 1973 when NASA launches a final top-secret mission to investigate a crewed Soviet space station called Almaz. The clandestine flight continues to the moon as both Russian and American crews target a huge bounty hidden on the lunar surface.

<a href="https://www.space.com/chris-hadfield-apollo-murders-novel" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">Astronaut Chris Hadfield talks about writing the book <a href="https://www.space.com/the-apollo-murders-chris-hadfield-book-excerpt" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">Read an excerpt from "The Apollo Murders"

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FApollo-Murders-Colonel-Chris-Hadfield%2Fdp%2F0316264539%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank"> Buy "The Apollo Murders" on Amazon

"Beyond: The Astonishing Story of the First Human to Leave Our Planet and Journey into Space" (Harper, 2021) 

By Stephen Walker 

Beyond $29.99 now $16.49 on Amazon.&nbsp;

Beyond <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FBeyond-Astonishing-Story-Planet-Journey%2Fdp%2F0062978152%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> $29.99 now $16.49 on Amazon . 

On April 12, 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to leave Earth's orbit and travel into space, marking a significant milestone in the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. In "Beyond: The Astonishing Story of the First Human to Leave Our Planet and Journey into Space" (Harper, 2021), author and documentary filmmaker Stephen Walker recounts intimate details of the months, and years, leading up to Gagarin’s historic flight, revealing the true stories of the Soviet space program as the agency prepared to launch the first human into space — only weeks before American astronaut Alan Shepard's suborbital flight on May 5, 1961. Walker also discusses the historical impact of Gagarin's flight and how it set the stage for NASA's Apollo program. ~ Samantha Mathewson

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FBeyond-Astonishing-Story-Planet-Journey-ebook%2Fdp%2FB08D9KCD1X%2Fref%3Dsr_1_1%3Fdchild%3D1%26keywords%3DBeyond%252C%2BStephen%2Bwalker%26qid%3D1617239747%26sr%3D8-1%26tag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "Beyond" on Amazon.com .

"The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, & Dreams Deferred" (Bold Type Books, 2021)

By Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

The Disordered Cosmos $28 now $14.74 on Amazon.

The Disordered Cosmos <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F1541724704%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> $28 now $14.74 on Amazon .  

Theoretical physics is supposed to be about pure, crisp ideas. But physics is done by humans, and human society brings messiness to any endeavor. That reality means every aspect of physics is marked by the social constraints of who is allowed to do physics in harmony with their identity and who is not. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, a theoretical physicist at the University of New Hampshire, tackles the implications of that reality in her thought-provoking new book. ~ Meghan Bartels

Read Space.com's interview with the author <a href="https://www.space.com/disordered-cosmos-book-interview" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">here.

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2F1541724704%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "The Disordered Cosmos" on Amazon.com

"The Relentless Moon" (Tor, 2020)

By Mary Robinette Kowal

Relentless Moon now $17.60 on Amazon.&nbsp;

Relentless Moon <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FRelentless-Moon-Lady-Astronaut-Novel%2Fdp%2F1250236967%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> now $17.60 on Amazon . 

Mary Robinette Kowal's Lady Astronaut series imagines what would have happened if Apollo-era spaceflight had continued at the same pace, pushed forward by the existential threat of meteor-caused climate change. This third book follows astronaut Nicole Wargin on an investigation of threats to a lunar base, exploring how life on the ground continues amid ambitious space exploration. ~ Meghan Bartels

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FRelentless-Moon-Lady-Astronaut-Novel%2Fdp%2F1250236967%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "The Relentless Moon" on Amazon.com

"The Sirens of Mars: Searching for Life on Another World" (Crown, 2020)

By Sarah Stewart Johnson

The Sirens of Mars $28.99 now $21.16 on Amazon.&nbsp;

The Sirens of Mars <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FSirens-Mars-Searching-Another-World-ebook%2Fdp%2FB07Y7HL1RT%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> $28.99 now $21.16 on Amazon . 

Planetary scientist Sarah Stewart Johnson shares the human story of the search for life on Mars in this compelling book. A host of hidden moments about scientists' views of the Red Planet decorate the book's pages, and Johnson explores how scientists have found and lost hope in the process of studying our nearest neighbor. ~ Meghan Bartels

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FSirens-Mars-Searching-Another-World-ebook%2Fdp%2FB07Y7HL1RT%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "The Sirens of Mars" on Amazon.com

"See You in Orbit?: Our Dream of Spaceflight" (To Orbit Productions, 2019)

By Alan Ladwig

See You In Orbit?: Our Dream Of Spaceflight now $18 on Amazon.&nbsp;

See You In Orbit?: Our Dream Of Spaceflight <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FSee-You-Orbit-Dream-Spaceflight%2Fdp%2F1733265708%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> now $18 on Amazon . 

Alan Ladwig, a former NASA manager, dives into the promise of public spaceflight in this new book, which comes as Blue Origin, SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and more take aim at private and commercial space travel.

Read Space.com's interview with the author <a href="https://www.space.com/see-you-in-orbit-alan-ladwig-public-spaceflight-book.html" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">here. 

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FSee-You-Orbit-Dream-Spaceflight-ebook%2Fdp%2FB07YZFJR64%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "See You In Orbit?: Our Dream of Spaceflight" on Amazon.com.

"Identified Flying Objects" (Masters Creative LLC, 2019)

By Michael Masters

Identified flying objects now $22.95 on Amazon.&nbsp;

Identified flying objects <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB07NHP3GXQ%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> now $22.95 on Amazon . 

Unidentified flying objects (UFOs) have captured the public's attention over the decades. Rather than aliens, could those piloting UFOs be us — our future progeny that have mastered the landscape of time and space? Perhaps those reports of people coming into contact with strange beings represent our distant human descendants, returning from the future to study us in their own evolutionary past. The idea of us being them has been advanced before, but this new book takes a fresh look at this prospect, offering some thought-provoking proposals. ~Leonard David

Read Space.com's review <a href="https://www.space.com/aliens-time-traveling-humans-ufo-hypothesis.html" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank">here. 

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB07NHP3GXQ%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "Identified Flying Objects: A Multidisciplinary Scientific Approach to the UFO Phenomenon" on Amazon.com.

"They Are Already Here: UFO Culture and Why We See Saucers" (Pegasus Books, 2020)

By Sarah Scoles

They Are Already Here $27.95 now $17.30 on Amazon.&nbsp;

They Are Already Here <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FThey-Are-Already-Here-Culture-ebook%2Fdp%2FB07VWKZ2QP%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> $27.95 now $17.30 on Amazon . 

Do you remember reading a New York Times story in 2017 that claimed to unveil a Pentagon program dedicated to investigating UFOs? Did you hear rumors about why the FBI closed a solar observatory the next year for then-undisclosed reasons? Are you confused about why there seem to be so many documentaries about alien sightings? "They Are Already Here: UFO Culture and Why We See Saucers" by freelance journalist Sarah Scoles, tackles these questions and many more. <a href="https://www.space.com/they-are-already-here-ufo-culture-book-excerpt.html" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank">Read an excerpt from "They Are Already Here," and read Space.com's interview with the author <a href="https://www.space.com/they-are-already-here-ufo-culture-book-sarah-scoles-interview.html" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank">here. 

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FThey-Are-Already-Here-Culture-ebook%2Fdp%2FB07VWKZ2QP%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "They Are Already Here" on Amazon.com.

"The Andromeda Evolution" (Harper, 2019)

By Daniel H. Wilson

The Andromeda Evolution now $7.50 on Amazon.&nbsp;

The Andromeda Evolution <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB07CRGKWC3%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> now $7.50 on Amazon . 

There's finally a sequel to Michael Crichton's 1969 classic about extraterrestrial life trying to take over humanity from, of all places, Arizona. In "The Andromeda Evolution," author Daniel H. Wilson continues Crichton's work and brings the terrifying tale into outer space. ~Elizabeth Howell

Read Space.com's review <a href="https://www.space.com/the-andromeda-evolution-book-daniel-wilson-interview.html" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank">here. 

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB07CRGKWC3%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "The Andromeda Evolution" on Amazon.com.

"For Small Creatures Such As We" (G.P Putnam's Sons, 2019)

By Sasha Sagan

For Small Creatures Such As We $26 now $14.45 on Amazon.&nbsp;

For Small Creatures Such As We <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB07N5JQXFK%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> $26 now $14.45 on Amazon . 

In her new book "For Small Creatures Such as We," Sasha Sagan, daughter of "Cosmos" co-writer Ann Druyan and famed astronomer Carl Sagan, dives into the secular side of spirituality. Upon starting a family of her own, Sagan wanted to have rituals and traditions that would bond them together. But being non-religious, she reevaluated what these traditions could be and this book explores how rituals like holidays can be inspired by the "magic" of nature, space and science rather than religion. ~Chelsea Gohd

Read Space.com's interview with the author <a href="https://www.space.com/sasha-sagan-daughter-carl-sagan-new-book.html" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">here. 

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB07N5JQXFK%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "For Small Creatures Such as We" on Amazon.com . 

"Dr. Space Junk Vs. the Universe" (MIT Press, 2019)

By Alice Gorman

Dr. Space Junk Vs The Universe $27.95 now $20.69 on Amazon.&nbsp;

Dr. Space Junk Vs The Universe <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FDr-Space-Junk-Universe-Archaeology%2Fdp%2F0262043432%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> $27.95 now $20.69 on Amazon . 

What happens to satellites when they die, and come to think of it, when do they die? Alice Gorman is an Australian archaeologist who studies objects related to spaceflight, and what we can learn by thinking about space through the lens of archaeology. Her book is an engaging story of the ways being human shapes how we go to space. From Aboriginal songs tucked on the Voyagers' Golden Records to the importance of the size of a spacecraft, Gorman offers a new perspective on the history — and future — of space. ~ Meghan Bartels

Read a Q&A with Gorman about the new book and the archaeology of space <a href="https://www.space.com/alice-gorman-space-junk-interview.html" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank">here.

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FDr-Space-Junk-Universe-Archaeology%2Fdp%2F0262043432%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "Dr. Space Junk Vs. the Universe" on Amazon.com.

"Einstein's Unfinished Revolution" (Penguin Press, 2019)

By Lee Smolin

Einstein's Unfinished Revolution $28 now $23.55 on Amazon.&nbsp;

Einstein's Unfinished Revolution <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FEinsteins-Unfinished-Revolution-Search-Quantum%2Fdp%2F1594206198%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> $28 now $23.55 on Amazon . 

Although many believe that the quantum-mechanics revolution of the 1920s is settled science, Lee Smolin wants to disrupt that assumption. Smolin, a theoretical physicist based at the Perimeter Institute in Toronto, argues that quantum mechanics is incomplete. The standard quantum model only allows us to know the position or trajectory of a subatomic particle — not both at the same time. Smolin has spent his career looking to "complete" quantum physics in a way that allows us to know both pieces of information. Smolin's very engaging new book, "Einstein's Unfinished Revolution," offers this unique perspective honed through four decades at the forefront of theoretical physics. ~Marcus Banks

Read a Q&A with Smolin about the new book and the state of quantum physics <a href="https://www.space.com/einsteins-unfinished-revolution-lee-smolin-interview.html" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">here.

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FEinsteins-Unfinished-Revolution-Search-Quantum%2Fdp%2F1594206198%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "Einstein's Unfinished Revolution" on Amazon.com . 

"Apollo's Legacy" (Smithsonian Books, 2019)

By Roger Launius

Apollo's Legacy now $27.95 on Amazon.&nbsp;

Apollo's Legacy <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FApollos-Legacy-Perspectives-Moon-Landings%2Fdp%2F1588346498%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> now $27.95 on Amazon . 

How do we understand a transformative event like the Apollo missions to the moon? Many present it as proof of American ingenuity and success, but there's much more to the story. In "Apollo's Legacy: Perspectives on the Moon Landings," space historian Roger Launius probes the impacts Apollo had technologically, scientifically and politically, as well as analyzing what we can draw from it to understand the country's modern space program. The slim volume is written as a scholarly text, but it's accessible to anybody with an interest in space history and the circumstances that spawned Apollo. ~Sarah Lewin

Read a Q&A with the author <a href="https://www.space.com/apollos-legacy-roger-launius-interview.html" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">here. 

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FApollos-Legacy-Perspectives-Moon-Landings%2Fdp%2F1588346498%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "Apollo's Legacy" on Amazon.com.

"Finding Our Place in the Universe" (MIT Press, 2019)

By Hélène Courtois

Finding Our Place In The Universe now $24.95 on Amazon.&nbsp;

Finding Our Place In The Universe <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FFinding-our-Place-Universe-Laniakea_the%2Fdp%2F0262039958%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> now $24.95 on Amazon . 

In "Finding Our Place in the Universe," French astrophysicist Helene Courtois describes the invigorating quest to discover the Milky Way's home. In 2014 Courtois was part of a research team that discovered the galactic supercluster which contains the Milky Way, which they named Laniakea. This means "immeasurable heaven" in Hawaiian. 

In this engaging and fast paced book, Courtois describes her own journey in astrophysics and highlights the key contributions of numerous female astrophysicists. The reader is right there with her as Courtois travels to the world's leading observatories in pursuit of Laniakea, and it's easy to see why the challenge of discovering our galaxy's home became so seductive. Readers who want them will learn all the scientific and technical details needed to understand the discovery of Laniakea, but it's also possible to enjoy this book as a pure tale of adventure. ~Marcus Banks

Read a Q&A with Courtois about her book and the hunt for Laniakea <a href="https://www.space.com/hunt-for-supercluster-helene-courtois.html" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">here.

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FFinding-our-Place-Universe-Laniakea_the%2Fdp%2F0262039958%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "Finding Our Place in the Universe" on Amazon.com.

"The Girl Who Named Pluto" (Schwartz & Wade, 2019)

By Alice B. McGinty, Illustrated by Elizabeth Haidle

The Girl Who Named Pluto $18.99 now $17.99 on Amazon.&nbsp;

The Girl Who Named Pluto <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FGirl-Who-Named-Pluto-Venetia%2Fdp%2F1524768316%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> $18.99 now $17.99 on Amazon . 

How did an 11-year-old English schoolgirl come to name Pluto? In "The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney," Alice B. McGinty recounts one child's history-making turn on a fateful morning in 1930. Although the book is aimed at kids ages 4 to 8, there's plenty for older children to connect with as well. And the vintage-flavored illustrations by Elizabeth Haidle make the experience a visual delight. 

Venetia had connected her love of mythology with her knowledge of science to christen the new planet after the Roman god of the underworld, refusing to let her age or gender to hold her back. 

McGinley says she hopes Venetia's tale inspires her readers — girls, in particular. "I hope girls read it and feel empowered to be part of the scientific process," she said. "I hope boys read it and feel empowered, too, and understand how important girls are to science." ~Jasmin Malik Chua

Read Space.com's interview with the author <a href="https://www.space.com/girl-who-named-pluto-picture-book.html" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">here. 

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FGirl-Who-Named-Pluto-Venetia%2Fdp%2F1524768316%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "The Girl Who Named Pluto" on Amazon.com.

"Delta-v" (Dutton, 2019)

By Daniel Suarez

Delta-V now $28 on Amazon.&nbsp;

Delta-V <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FDelta-v%2Fdp%2FB07KB7QF1H%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US""> now $28 on Amazon . 

In "Delta-v," an unpredictable billionaire recruits an adventurous cave diver to join the first-ever effort to mine an asteroid. The crew's target is asteroid Ryugu, which in real life Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft has been exploring since June 2018. From the use of actual trajectories in space and scientific accuracy, to the title itself, Delta-v — the engineering term for exactly how much energy is expended performing a maneuver or reaching a target — Suarez pulls true-to-life details into describing the exciting and perilous mission. The reward for successful asteroid mining is incredible, but the cost could be devastating. ~Sarah Lewin

Read a Q&A with the author <a href="https://www.space.com/delta-v-daniel-suarez-interview.html" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"">here.

<a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FDelta-v%2Fdp%2FB07KB7QF1H%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" data-link-merchant="space.com"" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Buy "Delta-v" on Amazon.com.

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IELTS Topics: Space

Posted by David S. Wills | Mar 16, 2020 | IELTS Tips | 1

IELTS Topics: Space

In the past, I have talked often about the importance of learning IELTS in terms of topics . This is because you can learn material organically in a way that your brain can effectively process. It is useful to do this because you can practice reading and writing together, for example, with each skill informing the other. This sort of method will result in higher retention of information than other methods, such as memorising lists of vocabulary and sample answers.

In today’s lesson, I want to introduce you to another IELTS topic. This time, we are looking at the topic of space . You might be wondering why we are looking at this topic. It is not as common as some other ones, like family or technology. However, space is still an important topic that may arise in your test.

ielts topic space

What do you mean by “space”?

First of all, let’s clarify what “space” is and what may occur in the IELTS test. By space, we mean basically anything not on this planet. For IELTS, you may be asked about space in a limited capacity because, honestly, it’s a really difficult topic and even native speakers would struggle to speak about it in depth.

Some things that occur in this topic are:

  • The value of space travel
  • The importance of studying space
  • Life on other planets

There really isn’t much more than that, but you should be aware that they could ask you something else. It is impossible to predict IELTS questions.

IELTS Vocabulary: Space

It’s important to note that you don’t need to be an expert on space to answer any IELTS questions. Indeed, IELTS is a very general exam and so you only need a broad and general set of knowledge and vocabulary. As such, I have made the following PPT that contains some useful vocabulary for IELTS students on the topic of space.

Those words are some quite general ones about space, but in the next PPT I have a few words that relate more specifically to space travel :

Now let’s do a short test. Using the words from those PPT files, you should fill in the blanks in the sentences below.

Vocabulary Test

  • Space travel has become more practical since the invention of the reusable _________.
  • The sun is located at the centre of the ___________.
  • Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong were the first men to walk on the surface of the _________.
  • At NASA, highly skilled people are trained intensively to become _____________.
  • When a rocket or space shuttle leaves the ground and heads towards space, the process is referred to as a __________.
  • Some people believe that _________ have visited earth and made contact with humans.
  • There are teams of scientists around the world searching for life on other __________.

(You can find the answers at the bottom of the page.)

IELTS Speaking Questions: Space

The topic of space is not a common one for IELTS speaking because most ideas are too difficult to expect a candidate to answer fully and the vocabulary required for a discussion about space is beyond a reasonable level expected for most IELTS candidates. However, you could encounter questions like these for part one:

  • Do you want to travel into space?
  • Do you like movies about space?
  • If space travel became affordable for everyone, would you want to visit another planet?

To be honest, questions that are more specific than these are unlikely. You can answer any of these without a vast knowledge of space terminology, and that’s what is required for IELTS. Being able to give a basic answer with just a few topic-specific words is fine.

For example, I would give the following sample answer:

Do you want to travel into space? Yes, I would definitely choose to visit space if I had the chance. I’ve always wanted to see what the Earth looks like from faraway, and very few people have ever actually been able to witness it. Although it might be a bit dangerous, it would truly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As for part three, the questions would be a little more advanced. Due to the nature of the topic, then, it is unlikely that you would really encounter many space questions here. However, if you did, they would look like this:

aliens and ielts

  • Do you think it’s worthwhile looking for life on other planets?
  • Is too much money spent sending people into space?
  • Do you think that space travel will become as common as air travel in future?

For each of these questions, you would need to offer a more detailed reply, giving a three-part answer:

  • State your answer.
  • Explain your answer.
  • Give evidence, example, or recommendation.

For example, to the first question, I might reply:

No, I really don’t think that it’s worthwhile looking for life on other planets. Lots of time, energy, and money is spent on this pointless project, when there are clearly many issues on Earth that need resolved first. There may well be aliens in another galaxy, but we have nothing to gain from contacting them because we have no hope of ever reaching them. Even reaching the edge of our own solar system would take thousands of years. Instead, we ought to reverse climate change and end poverty, both of which are ultimately far more achievable goals than communicating with extra-terrestrials.

You can look at my answer in three distinct parts:

  • No, I really don’t think that it’s worthwhile looking for life on other planets.
  • Lots of time, energy, and money is spent on this pointless project, when there are clearly many issues on Earth that need resolved first. There may well be aliens in another galaxy, but we have nothing to gain from contacting them because we have no hope of ever reaching them. Even reaching the edge of our own solar system would take thousands of years.
  • Instead, we ought to reverse climate change and end poverty, both of which are ultimately far more achievable goals than communicating with extra-terrestrials.

This basic structure has allowed me to present a fully-developed answer that is logical and appropriate. Note that I haven’t used much advanced vocabulary, although I did use the following space-related terms:

  • extra-terrestrials

I could have replaced them with other words from this lesson – solar system and aliens. These are synonyms. Instead, I wanted to add some variety and avoid repetition.

IELTS Writing Questions: Space

It is more common to encounter the topic of space in IELTS writing, where the issues presented tend to be a little more complex and require answers of about 250+ word in order to really cover them sufficiently. The issue of spending money on space travel, for example, is a little too vast to sufficiently describe in just a short, spoken answer.

Here is how that same topic may be presented for IELTS writing task 2:

Some people think that space exploration is a waste of resources while others think that it is essential for mankind to continue to explore the universe in which we live. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Sample Answer

I have written a sample band 9 answer that includes some useful vocabulary. I have highlighted those phrases in bold:

Some governments and private companies spend vast amounts of money on  space programmes , but this is often criticised as wasteful when there are clearly issues  here on Earth  that need to be solved. This essay will look at both viewpoints, and then decide that some limited  space exploration  should be undertaken. First of all, it is true that there are issues plaguing  this planet  that need our attention more than  space travel . Around the world, millions of people are starving to death or dying from preventable diseases. It seems unjust that governments are devoting billions of dollars to  send people into space  when these fundamental problems still exist. There are also existential threats such as extinction due to climate change, and yet we are devoting the best minds to  explore other planets  rather than saving this one. If it is just a matter of exploration, then there are even parts of this world that are not yet explored, such as the bottom of the ocean. Despite those valid concerns, space exploration is still important. The  astronauts  who  go up into orbit  are not just “exploring space” in the sense that explorers used to travel the world, but rather they are scientists  conducting experiments  that may prove beneficial to the future of humanity. The work that they do in space could be instrumental in stopping the next pandemic or ending hunger. Certainly, money spent on Earth would appear to be a more direct resolution, but perhaps these  space experiments  will have a greater ultimate benefit. In conclusion, this is a difficult issue because, while space travel is important, it seems hard to justify the vast amounts of money spent on it. However, this money will probably yield important long-term results and so it is important to continue.

(Note: This sample answer was originally posted here in November, 2019.)

IELTS Listening: Space

I really doubt that you would encounter the topic of space in IELTS listening unless it occurred in the lecture portion. In that case, the language used would not actually be about space but rather you would be listening to someone talking about space and you would be asked more general questions. Phrases like “solar system” would not really be necessary.

If this topic did arise, you might be presented with a basic discussion of an idea like space tourism or a human community on Mars. Any difficult concepts would be explained slowly and clearly, but ultimately it would be your general English that is tested, and not your knowledge of space.

If you want some listening practice on the topic of space, you can try these listening exercises that I made last year or look at this exercise from Breaking News English. For more general practice, you may want to look up videos about space on YouTube and see how much you can understand.

IELTS Reading: Space

It is very possible that you could encounter a reading passage about space in your IELTS test. This could cover almost any aspect of space because the reading test allows for difficult ideas. There may be questions about space travel, science, life on other planets, the history of space travel, and so on. It’s hard to predict because honestly there are so many options.

Again, you don’t need to be an expert on space to answer these correctly and you don’t have to know lots of space vocabulary, either. If there are any difficult words or phrases, they will be defined in the text or in a footnote. You can find a pretty useful reading practice exercise here from a university in Hong Kong.

  • space shuttle
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About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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Amir

Such a great sample. I really enjoyed that. thank you

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space travel reading

Space travel and health Answers and Questions

The Blog post contains the following IELTS Reading Questions :

  • IELTS Reading Yes/No/Not given
  • IELTS Reading Matching headings
  • IELTS Reading Sentence completion

Stay informed and prepared for success – Explore our comprehensive Reading Test Info page to get valuable insights, exam format details, and expert tips for mastering the IELTS Reading section .

IELTS Reading Passage: Space travel and health

space travel reading

Space travel and health

A. Both in the United States and Europe, space biomedicine is a relatively new field of study. Its primary goals are to investigate how space travel affects the human body, pinpoint the most pressing medical issues, and come up with solutions for those issues. NASA and/or the European Space Agency are providing more direct funding to space biomedicine centres. (ESA).

B. NASA and the ESA’s involvement reflects a growing concern that human endurance limits rather than engineering limitations are limiting the viability of travel to other planets and beyond. For example, the discovery of ice on Mars eliminates the need to design and build a spacecraft that is both large and powerful enough to transport the enormous quantities of water required to keep the crew alive during journeys that could last for many years. However, without the proper safeguards and medical care, the relentlessly hostile environment of space would wreak havoc on their bodies.

C. In many cases, the most noticeable physical changes people experience in zero gravity are harmless or even amusing. Because Earth’s gravity no longer pulls blood and other bodily fluids downward toward the feet, they accumulate higher up in the body, resulting in what is sometimes referred to as a “fat face” and the contrasting “chicken legs” syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.

D. The unobserved effects following months or years in space are much more severe. Without gravity, the body doesn’t need a strong skeleton to support it, which causes the bones to deteriorate and release calcium into the bloodstream. The kidneys may become overloaded by the extra calcium, which ultimately results in renal failure. Muscles also lose strength from inactivity. The lungs lose their ability to fully expand while the heart gets smaller, losing the ability to pump oxygenated blood to every part of the body. The immune system weakens, the digestive system becomes less effective, and high levels of solar and cosmic radiation can result in different types of cancer.

E. To make matters worse, in the event of an accident or serious illness, a variety of medical challenges may present themselves to the patient while they are millions of kilometres away from Earth. Simply put, the equipment from a hospital’s casualty unit cannot be transported inside a spacecraft because there is not enough room for it, and some of it would not function properly in space anyway. Even simple things like a drip rely on gravity to work, whereas standard resuscitation techniques fail if enough weight is not applied. The only option appears to be to develop incredibly tiny medical tools and “smart” gadgets that can, for instance, use ultrasound to identify and treat internal injuries. The price of creating and manufacturing this type of equipment is inevitably astronomical.

F. Given these factors, some have questioned the morality of spending enormous sums of money to aid a small group of individuals who are willingly risking their health in space when there is a great need for assistance much closer to home. However, it is now obvious that every issue with space travel has an equivalent issue on Earth that will gain from the knowledge amassed and the expertise honed through space biomedical research. For instance, the difficulty of treating astronauts in space has accelerated the field of telemedicine’s development, allowing surgeons to communicate with patients in inhospitable locations around the world. Another illustration: Systems developed to purify waste water on spacecraft could be used by rescue personnel to filter contaminated water at the scene of earthquakes and floods. Similar to how tiny monitoring devices that However, there is still a significant barrier to conducting studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without incurring the astronomical costs of working in space. Working underwater is a tried-and-true method to simulate conditions in zero gravity, but the space biomedicine centres are also considering other approaches. In one experiment, scientists look at the deterioration of bones brought on by extended inactivity. This would require volunteers to spend three months in bed, but the centre in question is confident that it shouldn’t be too difficult to find volunteers willing to spend a month lying down.Of course, AII was done in the name of science.were created to reduce weight in spacecraft will eventually become monitors that patients on Earth can wear comfortably wherever they go.

G. However, there is still a significant barrier to conducting studies into the effects of space travel: how to do so without incurring the astronomical costs of working in space. Working underwater is a tried-and-true method to simulate conditions in zero gravity, but the space biomedicine centres are also considering other approaches. In one experiment, scientists look at the deterioration of bones brought on by extended inactivity. This would require volunteers to spend three months in bed, but the centre in question is confident that it shouldn’t be too difficult to find volunteers willing to spend a month lying down. Of course, AII was done in the name of science.

Unlock your full potential in the IELTS Reading section – Visit our IELTS Reading Practice Question Answer page now!

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Renewable Energy IELTS Reading Question with Answer

Space travel and health IELTS Reading Questions

Questions 1 – 3

Do the following statements agree with the writer’s views in the Reading Passage? Write:

YES if the statement agrees with the views of the writer NO, if the state does not agree with the views of the writer NOT GIVEN if there is no information about this in the passage

1. The obstacles to going far into space are now medical, not technological. 2.  Astronauts cannot survive more than two years in space. 3.  It is morally wrong to spend so much money on space biomedicine. 4.  Some kinds of surgery are more successful when performed in space. 5.  Space biomedical research can only be done in space.

Want to excel in identifying the writer’s views and claims? Click here to explore our in-depth guide on how to accurately determine Yes, No, or Not Given in the IELTS Reading section .

Questions     6-10

Reading Passage 1 has seven paragraphs A-G. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E and G from the list of headings below. Write the correct member (i-x) in boxes 6 —10 on your answer sheet. 

List of Headings

i. The issue of handling emergencies in space ii. How space biomedicine can benefit patients here on Earth (ii) iii. The reason accidents happen so frequently in space iv. What is biomedicine in space? v. Astronauts’ mental health issues vi. conducting on-planet biomedical research in space vii. The internal harm that space travel does to the human body viii. The history of space medicine ix. The physical repercussions of space travel on the human body, item x. The current need for space biomedicine

Example:  Paragraph A Answer iv

6.   Paragraph B 7.   Paragraph C 8.   Paragraph D 9.   Paragraph E 10.   Paragraph G

Example: Paragraph F Answer ii

Ready to conquer Matching Headings questions? Click here to learn essential tips and techniques for matching headings accurately to paragraphs or sections in the IELTS Reading section.

Questions 11-13

Answer the questions below using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

11. The space travellers can find water in ________ apart from Earth. 12. The legs become ___________ while in space travel. 13. Telemedicine treating astronauts _________ in remote areas.

Enhance your sentence completion skills in the IELTS Reading section. Click here to access our comprehensive guide and learn effective strategies for filling in missing words or phrases in sentences.

Space travel and health Reading answers

Solution for 1: YesSolution for 2: Not given Solution for 3: No Solution for 4: Not given Solution for 5: No Solution for 6: x Solution for 7: ix Solution for 8: vii Solution for 9:  i Solution for 10: vi Solution for 11: Mars Solution for 12: They become thinner Solution for 13: Communication with patients

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space travel reading

Space Travel (Reading)

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Level: This is suited to B2/C1 – level students.

Time: 1.5 hrs  + ( depending on level).

This Space Travel reading lesson focuses on the space race which took place between the USA and USSR, leading to the moon landing. It includes conversation questions, a reading comprehension, vocabulary focus, a web quest, a speaking task and an activity to revise the new vocabulary.

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space travel reading

Space Travel

“All civilizations become either spacefaring or extinct.” Carl Sagan (1934 – 1996), American cosmologist and planetary scientist
  • December 7, 2020
  • General English
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Home » Space Travel

Latest lesson plans

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LESSON OVERVIEW

This free ESL lesson plan on space travel has been designed for adults and young adults at an intermediate (B1/B2) to advanced (C1/C2) level and should last around 45 to 60 minutes for one student.

In 1961, the human race ventured into space for the first time when Yuri Gagarin completed an orbit of Earth. Eight years later, in 1969, the first humans landed on the Moon and since then, we have gone no further. Today, many important scientists have warned that if we do not find another planet to live on in the future, humanity faces the risk of extinction due to global warming, the threat of nuclear war or artificial intelligence. Plans are afoot to visit Mars in the coming years, but it is unlikely that the Red Planet could be a viable home, meaning we will have to look further afield, probably in another solar system, to find a new home. In this ESL lesson plan on space travel, students will have the opportunity to discuss and express their opinions on issues such as whether they would like to travel in space, why we might need to colonise other planets and how we might achieve this.

This lesson plan could also be used with your students to debate these issues for the  International Day of Human Space Flight , which takes place in April, or for World Space Week , which takes place in October. For more lesson plans on international days and important holidays, see the  calendar of world days  to plan your classes for these special occasions.

For advice on how to use this English lesson plan and  other lesson plans  on this site, see the  guide for ESL teachers .

PRE-CLASS ACTIVITIES

Reading activity Before the English class, send the following article to the students and ask them to read it while making a list of any new vocabulary or phrases they find (explain any the students don’t understand in the class):

TOR | “Science vs. The Expanse : Is It Possible to Colonize Our Solar System?”

The article refers to the popular sci-fi TV show The Expanse , which shows a future in which humans have colonised various places in the solar system including the Moon, Mars and Ceres, and asks whether or not this is a realistic future for humans. At the start of the class, hold a brief discussion about what the students thought about the article. Do they agree with what was written in the article? Did they read anything they disagree with?

Video activity To save time in class for the conversation activities, the English teacher can ask the students to watch the video below and answer the listening questions in Section 3 of the lesson plan at home. There are intermediate listening questions and advanced listening questions so teachers can decide which would be more appropriate for their students. Check the answers in the class.

The video for this class is called “Could We Actually Live On Mars?” by TED Ed and explores the possibility of colonising Mars and the challenges this would entail.

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES

The focus in the class is on conversation in order to help improve students’ fluency and confidence when speaking in English as well as boosting their vocabulary.

This lesson opens with a short discussion about the article the students read before the class. Next, the students can give their opinion on the quote at the beginning of the lesson plan – what they think the quote means and if they agree with it. This is followed by an initial discussion on the topic including how the students think it would be to travel in Space, the prospects of turning the Moon into a holiday resort and what TV shows or filsm the students have seen that involves space travel.

After this, students will learn some vocabulary connected with space travel such as terraform , space tourism and wormhole . This vocabulary has been chosen to boost the students’ knowledge of less common vocabulary that could be useful for preparing for English exams like IELTS or TOEFL. The vocabulary is accompanied by a cloze activity and a speaking activity to test the students’ comprehension of these words.

If the students didn’t watch the video before the class, they can watch it after the vocabulary section and answer the listening questions. Before checking the answers, ask the students to give a brief summary of the video and what they thought about the content.

Finally, there is a more in-depth conversation about the need for space travel. In this speaking activity, students will talk about issues such as whether or not humans will ever colonise other planets, why humans would want to settle on other planets and the genetic and technological challenges this would present.

After the class, students will write about the colonisation of space. This could be a short paragraph or a longer piece of writing depending on what level the student is at. The writing activity is designed to allow students to practise and improve their grammar with the feedback from their teacher. For students who intend to take an international English exam such as IELTS or TOEFL, there is an alternative essay question to practise their essay-writing skills.

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March 15, 2024

Most Astronauts Get ‘Space Headaches.’ Scientists Want to Know Why

Headaches are a common and recurring problem in space, even for astronauts that don’t experience them on Earth

By Joanna Thompson

Creative illustration depicting an astronaut floating on a black background

Ignatiev/Getty Images

Spaceflight can be a real headache—literally. Since the days of the Apollo program, astronauts have reported experiencing head pain during their stint in microgravity . And many of them had never dealt with recurrent headaches on Earth. It seems that something about space travel sometimes triggers migraine or tension headache–like symptoms, including pain, sensitivity to light and occasionally nausea.

Until recently, though, these reports were largely sporadic and anecdotal. Now a new study, published in Neurology on March 13, demonstrates that these mysterious “space headaches” are actually quite common . Researchers analyzed data from 24 astronauts who kept logs while on multi-week-long space expeditions, as well as retrospective health data from 42 astronauts who went on space missions prior to being studied. They found that within the first seven days of leaving Earth, headaches weren’t just occasional inconveniences—they were the norm. “Almost every person [surveyed] in space suffered from a headache in that first week,” says Ron van Oosterhout, a neurologist at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands and co-author of the new paper.

This high prevalence made sense to the researchers; after all, when the human body first enters microgravity, many strange things happen. Blood begins to pool in the torso and head, resulting in facial swelling and sometimes visual impairments. The fluid in the inner ear that help us keep our balance is also disrupted by the lack of gravity, leading to a sense of disorientation and motion sickness.

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Astronauts typically adapt to these symptoms, and the discomfort begins to dissipate after a few days in space. But that wasn’t the case with space headaches. For 87 percent of the astronauts surveyed in space, the head pain continued to recur throughout their mission, often accompanied by sinus pressure and congestion. And more than half of the astronauts who were surveyed after their return to Earth reported experiencing at least one headache during their mission. Many participants reported treating these symptoms by popping aspirin or other pain-relieving drugs; others reported that sleep and exercise helped.

While it’s hard to be sure of the exact cause, the researchers suspect that these headaches come from increased intracranial pressure brought on by the redistributed fluids in the astronaut’s body. As gravity loosens its grip, blood, lymph and cerebrospinal fluid drift from their usual locations and begin to exert pressure elsewhere. If this is the cause of space headaches, it would be consistent with a known space travel condition called spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome, in which fluid pressing on the back of the eye impairs an astronaut’s vision.

And space headaches could be even more common than the study suggests. “One of the problems with evaluating headaches is that they are subjective, and [headache recall is] prone to reporting bias,” says Alexandra Sinclair, a professor of neurology at the University of Birmingham in England, who was not involved in the study. Astronauts might downplay the frequency and severity of their symptoms for fear of being grounded or seeming “weak,” for example.

Limited sample size also presents a challenge. Ideally, the study would have been able to gather data from a larger number of people, Sinclair says, “but that’s almost impossible in space research." She notes that the researchers did a commendable job navigating these limitations and calls the paper “really important and interesting.”

To get a better idea of what causes these space headaches, van Oosterhout and his team plan to compare astronauts’ reports with biological data, including eye scans, brain scans and samples of blood, hair and urine. Ultimately, van Oosterhout hopes that the work will help scientists treat people’s headaches a little closer to home because people can get similar tension headaches on Earth.

“I really like the space research,” he says. “[But] at the same time, I also feel that everything we do needs to be done in order to benefit people on Earth.”

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Space travel And Health IELTS Reading Answers

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Updated on 13 April, 2023

Mrinal Mandal

Mrinal Mandal

Study abroad expert.

Mrinal Mandal

The IELTS examinations are again coming close. Students who wish to enroll in international universities must score well on this test. The IELTS test assesses a student's comprehension skills and language proficiency. For a better understanding of the question pattern and type, students must practice regularly using sample papers. The Space Travel and Health Reading sample is designed to support preparations so students can ace the test. 

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  • Questions 1-5
  • Questions 6-7

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  • Questions 13-14

Study Abroad Without IELTS

Explore ielts reading samples with answers.

A. Space biomedicine is a relatively new area of research both in the USA and Europe. Its main objectives are to study the effects of space travel on the human body, identify the most critical medical problems, and find solutions to those problems. Space biomedicine centers are receiving increasing direct support from NASA and/or the European Space Agency (ESA).

B. This involvement of NASA and the ESA reflects growing concern that the feasibility of travel to other planets and beyond is no longer limited by engineering constraints but by what the human body can withstand. The discovery of ice on Mars, for instance, means that there is now no necessity to design and develop a large and powerful spacecraft to transport the vast amounts of water needed to sustain the crew throughout journeys that may last many years. Without the necessary protection and medical treatment, however, their bodies would be devastated by the unremittingly hostile environment of space.

C. The most apparent physical changes undergone by people in zero gravity are harmless; in some cases, they are even amusing. The blood and other fluids are no longer dragged down towards the feet by the gravity of Earth, so they accumulate higher up in the body, creating what is sometimes called 'fat face`, together with the opposite 'chicken legs' syndrome as the lower limbs become thinner.

D. More serious are the unseen consequences after months or years in space. With no gravity, there is less need for a sturdy skeleton to support the body, resulting in the bones weakening and releasing calcium into the bloodstream. This extra calcium can overload the kidneys, leading ultimately to renal failure. Muscles, too, lose strength through lack of use. The heart becomes smaller, losing the power to pump oxygenated blood to all body parts, while the lungs lose the capacity to breathe fully. The digestive system becomes less efficient, a weakened immune system is increasingly unable to prevent diseases, and high levels of solar and cosmic radiation can cause various forms of cancer.

E. To make matters worse, a wide range of medical difficulties can arise in the case of an accident or severe illness when the patient is millions of kilometers from Earth. There is not enough room inside a space vehicle to include all the equipment from a hospital's casualty unit, some of which would not work correctly in space. Even basic things such as a drip depend on gravity to function, while standard resuscitation techniques become ineffective if sufficient weight cannot be applied. The only solution seems to be to create extremely small medical tools and 'smart` devices that can, for example, diagnose and treat internal injuries using ultrasound. The cost of designing and producing this kind of equipment is bound to be astronomical.

F. Such considerations have led some to question the ethics of investing vast sums of money to help a handful of people who, after all, are willingly risking their health in outer space, when so much needs to be done a lot closer to home. However, it is clear that every problem of space travel has a parallel problem on Earth that will benefit from the knowledge gained and the skills developed from space biomedical research. For instance, the difficulty of treating astronauts in space has led to rapid progress in telemedicine, which has brought about developments that enable surgeons to communicate with patients in inaccessible parts of the world. To take another example, systems invented to sterilize wastewater onboard spacecraft could be used by emergency teams to filter contaminated water at the scene of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes. In the same way, miniature monitoring equipment, developed to save weight in space capsules, will eventually become tiny monitors that patients on Earth can wear without discomfort wherever they go.

G. Nevertheless, there is still one major obstacle to studying the effects of space travel: how to do so without going to the enormous expense of working in space. One tried and tested method to simulate conditions in zero gravity is to work underwater, but the space biomedicine centers are also looking at other ideas. In one experiment, researchers studied the weakening of bones that results from prolonged inactivity. This would involve volunteers staying in bed for three months, but the center concerned is confident there should be no great difficulty in finding people willing to spend twelve weeks lying down. AII in the name of science, of course.

IELTS IDIOMS GUIDE

Questions 1-5 

Reading passage 1 has seven paragraphs A-G. Choose the correct heading for paragraphs B-E and G from the list of titles below. Write the valid number (i-x) in boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet. 

List of Headings 

  • The problem of dealing with emergencies in space. 
  • How space biomedicine can help patients on Earth 
  • Why are accidents so common in outer space 
  • What is space biomedicine?
  • The psychological problems of astronauts 
  • Conducting space biomedical research on Earth 
  • The internal damage caused to the human body by space travel 
  • How space biomedicine first began 
  • The visible effects of space travel on the human body 
  • Why space biomedicine is now necessary 

Answer (1) –  x (Why space biomedicine is now necessary) 

Explanation: 

In the second paragraph or Paragraph B of the  Space Travel and Health Reading Answers , the author says that returning to space is no longer a problem due to engineering limitations. The primary issue is human health in outer space. Towards the end also, the author says that if proper medical equipment and teams are unavailable, the same can have irrecoverable health consequences given how hostile the outer space environment is. This shows how necessary space for biomedical research is. 

Answer (2) –  ix (The visible effects of space travel on the human body) 

Explanation:  According to Paragraph C of the  Space Travel and Health Reading sample, the author talks about visible changes that outer space travel cause on the human body. From the get-go, mention is made of the first visible change, which is rather amusing. The blood accumulating towards the face due to zero gravity is the first change – the fat face situation. Then comes chicken legs syndrome since the lower half of the limbs become leaner. So, this paragraph is all about visible physiological changes. 

Answer (3) –  vii (The internal damage caused to the human body by space travel)

Explanation:  Paragraph D of the  Space Travel and Health Reading sample starts by mentioning that the visible physiological changes are trivial compared to the other dangerous changes happening within the body over months and years of staying in space. Then the author mentions what those changes can be – calcium accumulating in the kidneys, bones weakening significantly, renal failure, heart becoming smaller, and decreased muscle strength. So, this paragraph is all about the internal damage of space travel. 

Answer (4) –  i (The problem of dealing with emergencies in space)

Explanation:  In the fifth paragraph of Paragraph E of the reading passage, the author carefully discusses the complications that health emergencies in space may cause. Many such examples are also mentioned, including drip not functioning due to lack of gravity. Then there is the problem of resuscitation in case the patient's body weight has reduced dramatically. This paragraph focuses heavily on the complications that space health emergencies cause.  

Answer (5) –  vi (Conducting space biomedical research on Earth) 

Explanation:  In the final paragraph or Paragraph G of the  Space Travel and Health Reading sample, the author talks explicitly about how space biomedical research may be conducted on Earth. He mentions two experiments that may work – one is to experiment underwater for zero gravity situations and the other is to have volunteers lie down for 12 weeks straight to help study the weakening of bones due to extended periods of inactivity. 

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Questions 6-7 

Do the following statements agree with the writer’s views on the Reading Passage? Write –

YES -  If the statement agrees with the views of the writer 

NO  – If the statement contradicts the views of the writer 

NOT GIVEN –  If there is no information about this in the passage 

8. The obstacles to going far into space are medical, not technological.

Answer – YES 

Explanation:  The answer to this question may be found in Paragraph B of the  Space Travel   and Health Reading Answers . This paragraph begins as a continuation of the previous one, wherein the author says that the greater involvement of ESA and NASA in space biomedicine centers is raising concerns. In Paragraph B, the concerns are revealed – space travel limitations currently do not extend to engineering or technological issues but to medical reasons. This is implied by the sentence talking about the conditions that the human body can endure. Hence, the statement is true. 

9. Astronauts cannot survive more than two years in space. 

Answer – NOT GIVEN

Explanation:  This question's answer may be found in Paragraph D of the  Space Travel and Health Reading sample. In the previous paragraphs, the author addressed concerns about space travel. In Paragraph D, questions are raised on the effects of space on the human body after months and years of living there. The author mentions several adverse consequences, such as too much calcium in the bloodstream, weakened muscles, a smaller heart, and an inefficient digestive system. However, no mention is made of whether or not humans can survive in space for more than two years. 

10. Spending so much money on space biomedicine is morally wrong. 

Answer – NO

Explanation:  Paragraph F of the  Space Health and Travel Reading Answers answers this question. In the previous paragraph, the writer talks about the enormous sum space travel-related medical research would cost. In the paragraph in question, the author reveals that some people consider space travel-related biomedical research unethical investments. However, he further states that such research has value for medical science on Earth. Instances include advancements in telemedicine. Therefore, the statement contradicts what is given in the passage. 

11. Some kinds of surgery are more successful when performed in space. 

Answer – NOT GIVEN 

Explanation:  A clue to this question's answer can be found in Paragraph F of the Reading passage. As the paragraph proceeds, the author says that investing in biomedicine research for space travel is helpful because it helps medical research on Earth. He gives the example of telemedicine. We also get to know that the way this has helped is it has enabled surgeons to communicate with patients in every part of the world. However, nowhere is mention of certain surgeries being more successful in space. 

12. Space biomedical research can only be done in space. 

Answer – NO 

Explanation:  The answer to this question is available in Paragraph G of the  Space Travel and Health Reading Answers sample. In this paragraph, the author mentions that it is possible to carry out biomedicine research for space travel on Earth itself. However, the same will involve huge expenses and out-of-the-ordinary experiments. An example is also given in the form of having volunteers lay in bed for three months straight to test the weakening of bones. Though the experiment seems impractical, at least the statement is true because space-related biomedicine research is possible on Earth. 

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Questions 13-14 

Complete the table below. Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer 

Answer for Question 13 –  Communicate with patients 

Explanation:  The answer to this question may be found in Paragraph F of the  Space Travel   and Health Reading Answers . In this paragraph, the author continues the debate on whether investing money in space-related biomedicine research is ethical. Then, the author justifies the spending, saying that this research has benefitted the Earth in several ways, one of which is the advancement of telemedicine. And the reason is that surgeons can now speak to people in previously inaccessible parts of the world. 

Answer for Question 14 –  Filter contaminated water 

Explanation:  The answer to this question can again be found in Paragraph F of the  Space   Travel and Health   Reading sample. In this paragraph, the author first mentions advancements in telemedicine as one of the significant benefits of space-related biomedicine research. An example was how surgeons were able to communicate with patients in previously inaccessible parts of the world. Then, he offers another example – systems through which wastewater in the spacecraft was sterilized could also be used to fix contaminated water in sites of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. 

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Espresso

Everything you need to know about space tourism

Posted: October 12, 2023 | Last updated: October 12, 2023

<p>Between floating in weightlessness, <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/international-space-stationa-journey-around-the-earth-every-90-minutes-with-16-sunrises-in-a-day/as71686846.cms#:~:text=separated%20by%20commas)-,International%20Space%20Station%E2%80%94a%20journey%20around%20the%20earth%20every%2090,that%20is%20a%20staggering%20speed.">witnessing 16 sunrises a day</a> and gazing into the infinite void, space travel sure sounds like an out-of-this-world experience. And now, it’s no longer a thing of the future. </p><p>That’s right, soon interstellar awe will be open to (almost) anyone, as billionaires Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk are pushing the space tourism industry to a higher orbit. </p>

Between floating in weightlessness, witnessing 16 sunrises a day and gazing into the infinite void, space travel sure sounds like an out-of-this-world experience. And now, it’s no longer a thing of the future.

That’s right, soon interstellar awe will be open to (almost) anyone, as billionaires Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk are pushing the space tourism industry to a higher orbit.

<p>Well, it’s almost like regular tourism: travel for recreational and leisure purposes… but in outer space. Some organizations like the <a href="http://www.commercialspaceflight.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Commercial Spaceflight Federation</a> and the <a href="http://www.citizensinspace.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Citizens in Space project</a> prefer to use the terms “personal spaceflight” or “citizen space exploration,” though.</p><p>In a nutshell, it’s space travel for non-astronauts.</p>

What is space tourism?

Well, it’s almost like regular tourism: travel for recreational and leisure purposes… but in outer space. Some organizations like the Commercial Spaceflight Federation and the Citizens in Space project prefer to use the terms “personal spaceflight” or “citizen space exploration,” though.

In a nutshell, it’s space travel for non-astronauts.

<p><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/06/08/space-tourism-questions-answers/">Anyone</a>! Well, that is, anyone with enough money. No need to have any previous science qualifications or NASA training, especially since a trained crew will escort tourists on their galactic journey.</p><p>According to Virgin Galactic, future space tourists will be between 10 and 90 years old, and come from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds.</p><p>The only thing you need? The desire to explore the universe!</p>

Who can travel to space?

Anyone ! Well, that is, anyone with enough money. No need to have any previous science qualifications or NASA training, especially since a trained crew will escort tourists on their galactic journey.

According to Virgin Galactic, future space tourists will be between 10 and 90 years old, and come from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds.

The only thing you need? The desire to explore the universe!

<p>The main difference between <a href="https://www.space.com/suborbital-orbital-flight.html">orbital and suborbital flights</a> lies in the trajectory and speed of the vessels. </p><p>To go into orbit, a rocket or spaceship needs to follow a path that goes around the Earth at the very fast minimum speed of 7.7 kilometres (4.8 miles) per second, in order to keep circling and never fall back down.</p><p>It allows astronauts and travellers to stay in space for extended periods of time, hence it is for now the preferred type of flight.</p>

What is orbital travel?

The main difference between orbital and suborbital flights lies in the trajectory and speed of the vessels.

To go into orbit, a rocket or spaceship needs to follow a path that goes around the Earth at the very fast minimum speed of 7.7 kilometres (4.8 miles) per second, in order to keep circling and never fall back down.

It allows astronauts and travellers to stay in space for extended periods of time, hence it is for now the preferred type of flight.

<p>A <a href="https://theconversation.com/first-space-tourists-will-face-big-risks-as-private-companies-gear-up-for-paid-suborbital-flights-138766">suborbital flight</a>, which is what Branson and Bezos did, “just” requires enough energy to blast off to space and then naturally fall back to Earth, making a huge arc.</p><p>It requires less energy and is less costly than orbital flights, thus opening doors for relatively affordable space tourism in the future.</p><p>Passengers would experience up to six minutes of weightlessness and a grandiose view.</p>

What is suborbital travel?

A suborbital flight , which is what Branson and Bezos did, “just” requires enough energy to blast off to space and then naturally fall back to Earth, making a huge arc.

It requires less energy and is less costly than orbital flights, thus opening doors for relatively affordable space tourism in the future.

Passengers would experience up to six minutes of weightlessness and a grandiose view.

<p>Although <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/06/08/space-tourism-questions-answers/">Virgin Galactic</a> doesn’t explicitly list its physical requirements, they did say astronauts would have to pass certain medical checkups and training programs. Blue Origin, on the other hand, has said that training for suborbital trips will only take a day. </p><p>And of course, any space tourist will also have to pass a series of thorough tests to determine whether they’re fit to fly up there. </p><p>Once in space, you may have to perform small bouts of exercise to <a href="https://www.space.com/average-person-exercise-during-commercial-spaceflight">prevent muscle wasting</a>, which takes place after just seven days.</p>

How do you prepare?

Although Virgin Galactic doesn’t explicitly list its physical requirements, they did say astronauts would have to pass certain medical checkups and training programs. Blue Origin, on the other hand, has said that training for suborbital trips will only take a day.

And of course, any space tourist will also have to pass a series of thorough tests to determine whether they’re fit to fly up there.

Once in space, you may have to perform small bouts of exercise to prevent muscle wasting , which takes place after just seven days.

<p>As its name hints, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/first-private-trip-to-the-moon-could-be-a-tremendous-boost-or-bust-for-space-tourism-1.5937240">lunar tourism</a> is the project of sending paying travellers to the moon. The first one could happen as soon as 2023, and would consist of a loop flight.</p><p>But three types of lunar tourism could be available in the near future: circumlunar trajectory, lunar orbit, and even lunar landing.</p><p>How cool would it be to say to someone, upon returning from a lunar vacation, “I’ve literally loved you to the moon and back”?</p>

What is lunar tourism?

As its name hints, lunar tourism is the project of sending paying travellers to the moon. The first one could happen as soon as 2023, and would consist of a loop flight.

But three types of lunar tourism could be available in the near future: circumlunar trajectory, lunar orbit, and even lunar landing.

How cool would it be to say to someone, upon returning from a lunar vacation, “I’ve literally loved you to the moon and back”?

<p>Admittedly, space is a vast place. So <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/jun/15/spacewatch-astronauts-planets-atmosphere" rel="noreferrer noopener">where exactly would tourists go</a>?</p><p>First, any space travel begins with the <a href="https://astronomy.com/news/2021/03/the-krmn-line-where-does-space-begin">Kármán line</a>, which lies at 100 kilometres (62 miles) above sea level and is commonly accepted as the limit between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.</p><p>Then, there are several options: orbital, suborbital, and lunar space tourism.</p>

Where does space tourism take place?

Admittedly, space is a vast place. So where exactly would tourists go ?

First, any space travel begins with the Kármán line , which lies at 100 kilometres (62 miles) above sea level and is commonly accepted as the limit between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.

Then, there are several options: orbital, suborbital, and lunar space tourism.

<p>Yes! From 2001 to 2009, the Russian space agency and the U.S.-based space tourism company <a href="https://www.space.com/space-adventures-roscosmos-tourist-flight-spacewalk-2023.html">Space Adventures</a> took seven (very wealthy) members of the public for several orbital space travels to the International Space Station. </p><p>The flights took place aboard the famous spacecraft Soyuz but stopped in 2010, since the crew of actual astronauts grew bigger and left no more seats available for paying space tourists.</p>

Have touristic space travels already occurred?

Yes! From 2001 to 2009, the Russian space agency and the U.S.-based space tourism company Space Adventures took seven (very wealthy) members of the public for several orbital space travels to the International Space Station.

The flights took place aboard the famous spacecraft Soyuz but stopped in 2010, since the crew of actual astronauts grew bigger and left no more seats available for paying space tourists.

<p>The American businessman Dennis Tito became officially <a href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/space-tourism-20-year-anniversary-scn/index.html#:~:text=(CNN)%20%E2%80%94%20On%20April%2030,the%20world's%20first%20space%20tourist.">the first space tourist</a> in April 2001, when he stayed for seven days on the International Space Station.</p><p>He was followed by six multimillionaire fellows from various countries: South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth, American scientist Gregory Olsen, Iranian engineer Anousheh Ansari (the first female space tourist), Hungarian-American computer programmer Charles Simonyi, British video game mogul Richard Garriott, and Canadian businessman Guy Laliberté.</p><p>On July 11, 2021, billionaire Richard Branson, along with three Virgin Galactic employees and two pilots, reached an altitude of <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57797297">85 kilometres (53 miles) above Earth</a> aboard his Virgin Galactic rocket plane, the Unity. Less than 10 days later, on July 20, the world’s richest man, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, briefly entered space on <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2021/07/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-successful-flight/619484/">Blue Origin</a>, his private space company’s reusable rocket. He was joined by his younger brother Mark, Dutch teenager Oliver Daemen, and Wally Funk, who, at 82 years old, became the oldest astronaut. </p>

Who were the first space tourists?

The American businessman Dennis Tito became officially the first space tourist in April 2001, when he stayed for seven days on the International Space Station.

He was followed by six multimillionaire fellows from various countries: South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth, American scientist Gregory Olsen, Iranian engineer Anousheh Ansari (the first female space tourist), Hungarian-American computer programmer Charles Simonyi, British video game mogul Richard Garriott, and Canadian businessman Guy Laliberté.

On July 11, 2021, billionaire Richard Branson, along with three Virgin Galactic employees and two pilots, reached an altitude of 85 kilometres (53 miles) above Earth aboard his Virgin Galactic rocket plane, the Unity. Less than 10 days later, on July 20, the world’s richest man, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, briefly entered space on Blue Origin , his private space company’s reusable rocket. He was joined by his younger brother Mark, Dutch teenager Oliver Daemen, and Wally Funk, who, at 82 years old, became the oldest astronaut.

<p>Unlike past tourism experiments, which took place aboard vessels sent off for scientific purposes, future travels will happen on private companies’ flights set up solely for space tourism. </p><p>Those pioneering aerospace companies are <a href="https://www.virgingalactic.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic</a>; <a href="http://www.spacex.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener">SpaceX, founded by Tesla co-founder Elon Musk</a>; and <a href="https://www.blueorigin.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blue Origin</a>, created by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.</p>

Who would be the space tourism “agencies”?

Unlike past tourism experiments, which took place aboard vessels sent off for scientific purposes, future travels will happen on private companies’ flights set up solely for space tourism.

Those pioneering aerospace companies are Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic ; SpaceX, founded by Tesla co-founder Elon Musk ; and Blue Origin , created by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

<p>Sooner than you think. According to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffwhitmore/2021/07/14/space-travel-updates-when-will-we-be-able-to-travel-to-space/?sh=12e9f52e6dff"><em>Forbes</em></a>, Virgin Galactic’s successful trip means the company could start sending civilians up into space as soon as early 2022. Likewise, Blue Origin, which has a Federal Aviation Administration licence for human space travel through August 2021, could officially enter the space tourism game by early 2022.</p>

When will space tourism happen?

Sooner than you think. According to Forbes , Virgin Galactic’s successful trip means the company could start sending civilians up into space as soon as early 2022. Likewise, Blue Origin, which has a Federal Aviation Administration licence for human space travel through August 2021, could officially enter the space tourism game by early 2022.

<p>It’s not exactly clear at the moment, but there have been some indications. For example, Virgin Galactic began selling ticket reservations for <a href="https://slate.com/technology/2021/07/blue-origin-cost-jeff-bezos-space-virgin-galactic-spacex.html">US$250,000</a> and sold roughly 600, before a test crash in 2014 brought sales to a halt. They’re expected to start selling tickets again in 2022, but at a much higher price.</p><p>It was reported in 2018 that seats on Bezos’s Blue Origin would also cost in the ballpark of US$200,000 to US$300,000, but that could change given how high demand is. At a recent auction, the winning bid for a seat aboard the company’s first spaceflight was a whopping <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/12/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-auctions-spaceflight-seat-for-28-million.html">US$28 million</a>.</p><p>The bottom line is, those hoping to take a trip around the stars will either need to know someone or have hundreds of thousands (likely even millions) of dollars to spare.</p>

How much will it cost?

It’s not exactly clear at the moment, but there have been some indications. For example, Virgin Galactic began selling ticket reservations for US$250,000 and sold roughly 600, before a test crash in 2014 brought sales to a halt. They’re expected to start selling tickets again in 2022, but at a much higher price.

It was reported in 2018 that seats on Bezos’s Blue Origin would also cost in the ballpark of US$200,000 to US$300,000, but that could change given how high demand is. At a recent auction, the winning bid for a seat aboard the company’s first spaceflight was a whopping US$28 million .

The bottom line is, those hoping to take a trip around the stars will either need to know someone or have hundreds of thousands (likely even millions) of dollars to spare.

<p>The development of space tourism vehicles is still an ongoing project. </p><p>But a few options already exist, like Virgin Galactic’s spaceplanes that can carry up to eight people, or <a href="https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/dragon/">SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft</a>, launched by the Falcon Heavy rocket. </p><p>Blue Origin’s New Shepard looks more like a regular rocket that takes off and lands vertically, but also claims to offer the biggest windows of any spacecraft—a good selling point. It comfortably sits six people and is fully autonomous, meaning no pilot onboard.</p>

How do we get there?

The development of space tourism vehicles is still an ongoing project.

But a few options already exist, like Virgin Galactic’s spaceplanes that can carry up to eight people, or SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft , launched by the Falcon Heavy rocket.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard looks more like a regular rocket that takes off and lands vertically, but also claims to offer the biggest windows of any spacecraft—a good selling point. It comfortably sits six people and is fully autonomous, meaning no pilot onboard.

<p>Needless to say, travelling to space is <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/hrp/bodyinspace">no walk in the park.</a></p><p>You’re eager to experience the joys of floating in microgravity? You better also get prepared to endure several physical discomforts: nausea and sea sickness, dizziness, headache, disorientation, puffy face, and bloodshot eyes.</p><p>But astronauts and previous space tourists agree that the body adjusts fairly quickly, getting used to its spatial environment in about three days.</p>

What does it feel like?

Needless to say, travelling to space is no walk in the park.

You’re eager to experience the joys of floating in microgravity? You better also get prepared to endure several physical discomforts: nausea and sea sickness, dizziness, headache, disorientation, puffy face, and bloodshot eyes.

But astronauts and previous space tourists agree that the body adjusts fairly quickly, getting used to its spatial environment in about three days.

<p><a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/jeff-bezos-and-other-space-tourists-will-enter-sparse-regulatory-territory-11623325460">Safety is a reasonable concern</a>, considering the many hazards involved in space travel: the probability of a crash, exposure to cosmic radiation, and even unknown dangers that could emerge with this new industry. But here is the real question for any adventurer: is the thrill worth the risk?</p>

Is it safe?

Safety is a reasonable concern , considering the many hazards involved in space travel: the probability of a crash, exposure to cosmic radiation, and even unknown dangers that could emerge with this new industry. But here is the real question for any adventurer: is the thrill worth the risk?

<p>For many tourists, food is a crucial criterion for a successful vacation. But outer space is no place for gourmets, at least not yet. Interstellar tourists can expect to enjoy mostly canned, modified, and pre-packaged meals (such as space burritos and freeze-dried ice cream). But soon, <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/exploration-research-and-technology/growing-plants-in-space/" rel="noreferrer noopener">thanks to NASA’s veggie farm</a>, space tourists might be able to savour space-grown salads. </p>

What is the food like?

For many tourists, food is a crucial criterion for a successful vacation. But outer space is no place for gourmets, at least not yet. Interstellar tourists can expect to enjoy mostly canned, modified, and pre-packaged meals (such as space burritos and freeze-dried ice cream). But soon, thanks to NASA’s veggie farm , space tourists might be able to savour space-grown salads.

<p>Orbital space travel allows you to stay up there for a few days or even weeks. At that point, you might want to stretch your legs outside of the spacecraft, right? Well, in the future, space stations could be used as hotels: the Genesis inflatable habitats by Bigelow Aerospace and the <a href="http://spaceislandgroup.com/home.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">Space Island Project</a> are existing examples. Make sure to book a room with a view of planet Earth!</p>

What about the accommodations?

Orbital space travel allows you to stay up there for a few days or even weeks. At that point, you might want to stretch your legs outside of the spacecraft, right? Well, in the future, space stations could be used as hotels: the Genesis inflatable habitats by Bigelow Aerospace and the Space Island Project are existing examples. Make sure to book a room with a view of planet Earth!

How to pack a space suitcase?

Packing a suitcase for a trip through the cosmos is actually less of a headache than doing so for a weekend vacation on Earth. Just keep in mind that it’s impossible to do laundry in space, so pack clothes accordingly : stock up on underwear, light clothing (space station temperature is controlled at about 22 degrees Celsius, or 72 degrees Fahrenheit), and exercise outfits. Outerwear will be provided: an orange suit for takeoff and re-entry, and a white one for potential space strolls.

<p>With ecotourism being a growing trend and concern over the last few years, the question is legitimate. Well, bad news: space travel could have a negative impact by <a href="https://www.space.com/environmental-impact-space-tourism-flights">accelerating global warming</a>. This would be caused by the black carbon released into the stratosphere after suborbital launches. But of course, <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/virgin-galactic-space-tourism-wont-hurt-environment-says-richard-branson/news-story/0c03b11efe10fa48a3296f6f361b7557">entrepreneurs in the industry claim</a> that the carbon footprint of space tourism would be minimal. The truth is, rockets emit 50 to <a href="https://www.space.com/space-tourism-rockets-emit-100-times-more-co2">100 times more CO₂ per passenger</a> than a regular flight. Considering that Virgin Galactic plans to do 400 trips per year, that’s a lot of CO₂ entering the atmosphere.</p>

Is it eco-friendly?

With ecotourism being a growing trend and concern over the last few years, the question is legitimate. Well, bad news: space travel could have a negative impact by accelerating global warming . This would be caused by the black carbon released into the stratosphere after suborbital launches. But of course, entrepreneurs in the industry claim that the carbon footprint of space tourism would be minimal. The truth is, rockets emit 50 to 100 times more CO₂ per passenger than a regular flight. Considering that Virgin Galactic plans to do 400 trips per year, that’s a lot of CO₂ entering the atmosphere.

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SpaceX's mega rocket Starship launches for it's third test flight from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, Thursday, March 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

SpaceX’s Starship destroyed on return to Earth at end of third test flight

Spacecraft’s cruise vessel flew around globe for first time, but lost contact in final stages before planned splashdown

SpaceX’s Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, was destroyed during its return to Earth after nearly completing its third test flight.

The 120-metre system, which weighs about 5,000 tonnes when fully fuelled, took off from SpaceX’s spaceport, named Starbase, on the Gulf of Mexico in Boca Chica, Texas. SpaceX aims to use the spacecraft to one day carry astronauts to the moon and Mars.

For the first time, the spacecraft’s cruise vessel flew around the globe, but contact was lost during the final stages of the test, just as it re-entered the atmosphere .

SpaceX never intended to recover the ship, which was nearing a planned entry into the Indian Ocean minutes later. It presumably either burned up or came apart during re-entry.

“The ship has been lost. So no splashdown today,” said SpaceX’s Dan Huot. “But again, it’s incredible to see how much further we got this time around.”

Elon Musk, SpaceX’s billionaire founder, said on X, his social media platform: “SpaceX has come a long way.”

Two previous attempts ended in the explosion of both the spacecraft’s 33-engine booster, nicknamed Super Heavy, and the cruise vessel, which is designed to eventually carry up to 100 astronauts. Stacked together, they stand at 10 metres taller than the Saturn V rocket that sent humans to the moon in 1969.

The first Starship launch attempt lasted four minutes and the second lasted eight, with the latter reaching space . The third lasted more than 50 minutes.

SpaceX is much more tolerant of risk than Nasa and has a flight-testing strategy that aims to frequently push its spacecraft prototypes to the limit and beyond. The company says frequent flight testing will provide valuable data that will help it design and develop a more robust rocket.

“Each of these flight tests continue to be just that: a test,” SpaceX said in a statement before the third launch attempt, in an apparent attempt to manage expectations in case the system exploded. “They aren’t occurring in a lab or on a test stand, but are putting flight hardware in a flight environment to maximise learning.”

The third flight conducted several tests, including opening a payload door and making an internal fuel transfer while in space.

Both the upper and lower segments of Starship are designed to eventually power themselves safely back to Earth for a soft landing so that they can be reused, which will be significantly cheaper than building entirely new parts for each mission.

Musk hopes Starship will be the first step on a human journey further into space that ever before. He says he developed Starship, previously named the BFR (heavily hinted to mean “big fucking rocket”), so that humans can eventually become a “multiplanetary species”. To do this, Musk intends to begin the colonisation of Mars so that humanity can survive a planet-destroying event on Earth, such as a sentient AI takeover or asteroid strike.

Nasa has contracted SpaceX to land astronauts, including the first woman, on the moon as soon as 2026, although that date is likely to be pushed back. Several other Starship systems are already in production for future tests.

Nasa’s chief, Bill Nelson, congratulated SpaceX on what he called “a successful test flight” in a statement posted on X.

Despite the outcome of Thursday’s test, all indications are that Starship remains a considerable distance from becoming fully operational.

Musk has said the rocket should fly hundreds of uncrewed missions before carrying its first humans.

Musk had previously said the total development cost of Starship could be between $2bn and $10bn. Each launch is estimated to cost tens of millions of dollars.

The company makes money by operating smaller rockets to launch satellites as well as sending astronauts to the International Space Station. It has announced longer-term plans to use the spacecraft as a shuttle for commercial travel on Earth, promising trips from London to Tokyo in less than an hour.

AFP and the Associated Press contributed to this report

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Flying high —

It’s a few years late, but a prototype supersonic airplane has taken flight, "this milestone will be invaluable to boom’s revival of supersonic travel.".

Eric Berger - Mar 22, 2024 9:44 pm UTC

XB-1 takes off on its inaugural flight.

A prototype jet independently developed by Boom Supersonic made its first flight on Friday, the company said.

The XB-1 vehicle flew from Mojave Air & Space Port in California, reaching an altitude of 7,120 feet (2.2 km) and a maximum speed of 273 mph (439 kph). In a news release , Boom Supersonic said the initial test flight of the XB-1 aircraft met all of its objectives.

"The experience we have gained in reaching this milestone will be invaluable to Boom’s revival of supersonic travel," said Bill “Doc” Shoemaker, Chief Test Pilot for Boom Supersonic.

The XB-1 aircraft is a demonstrator intended to test materials and the aerodynamics of a larger commercial supersonic aircraft the company is calling Overture.

Boom is one of a handful of companies attempting to revive supersonic commercial air travel since the Concorde's final flight in 2003. Its planes are intended to carry between 64 and 80 passengers at about twice the speed of conventional commercial jets in service today. Boom says it has received 130 orders and preorders from American Airlines, United Airlines, and Japan Airlines for the Overture vehicle, which it plans to deliver later this decade.

A lot of milestones to go

Boom Supersonic was founded a decade ago, in 2014. It rolled out the XB-1 prototype for the first time in October 2020. At the time , the company said it planned to begin a flight test campaign during the third quarter of 2021. It is not clear why Boom missed that timeline by two and a half years.

The company plans to fly the XB-1 to learn the lessons of supersonic flight with a lower-cost vehicle and incorporate these findings into Overture's final design. There is only so much technology that can be tested on the ground, and in wind tunnels, so the company needs to fly now to mature its design.

After Friday's flight, the company said the aircraft's development team will continue to expand the flight envelope to confirm its performance and handling qualities through and beyond Mach 1.

One key element of the Overture aircraft that the XB-1 prototype is not testing is the engines. The XB-1 is powered by three GE J85-15 engines, a turbojet engine that has been in service for several decades. Boom Supersonic is developing a new engine, a medium-bypass turbofan engine Symphony , for the Overture aircraft.

Previously, the company showcased a one-third scale design model of Symphony, but it has not released information about developmental tests of the hardware. The additively manufactured engine is advertised as having 35,000 pounds of thrust.

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A Total Solar Eclipse Is Coming. Here’s What You Need to Know.

These are answers to common questions about the April 8 eclipse, and we’re offering you a place to pose more of them.

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The sun flares at the edge of the moon during a total eclipse.

By Katrina Miller

On April 8, North America will experience its second total solar eclipse in seven years. The moon will glide over the surface of our sun, casting a shadow over a swath of Earth below. Along this path, the world will turn dark as night.

Skywatchers in Mexico will be the first to see the eclipse on the mainland. From there, the show will slide north, entering the United States through Texas, then proceeding northeast before concluding for most people off the coast of Canada.

Why eclipses happen is simple: the moon comes between us and the sun. But they are also complicated. So if you’ve forgotten all of your eclipse facts, tips and how-to’s since 2017, we’re here to explain it for you.

But before we dive in, there is one thing to know that is more important than anything else: It is never safe to look directly at the sun during an eclipse (except for the few moments when the moon has fully obscured its surface). At all other times, watch the event through protective eye equipment . Read on to learn about how to watch an eclipse safely.

What is a total solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon orients itself between Earth and the sun, shielding the solar surface from our view.

In cosmic terms, it is unusual that this happens: the moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, but it is about 400 times closer to us. That means that when these two celestial bodies are aligned, they appear to be the same size in the sky.

What other types of eclipses are there?

Annular solar eclipses occur when the moon is farther from Earth and appears too small to completely shield the sun’s surface. Instead, the outer part of the solar disk remains uncovered — a “ring of fire” in the sky.

Partial solar eclipses happen when Earth, the moon and the sun are imperfectly aligned. The moon only obscures a chunk of the sun. There will be two in 2025.

Earth can also get between the moon and the sun, creating a lunar eclipse. This can be observed once or twice a year .

How dark will it be during the eclipse?

In any given place along the eclipse path , the event will last around two hours or more.

The event will commence with a partial solar eclipse, as the moon takes a small bite out of the sun’s edge, then consumes more and more of its surface. According to NASA , this can last anywhere from 70 to 80 minutes.

The phase of the eclipse where the moon has completely blocked the sun’s surface is called totality. This is the only time the event can be viewed with the naked eye.

The length of totality varies by location. In April, some places will experience this phase for more than four minutes; others, for only one to two minutes.

During totality, the sky will get dark as night and the temperature will drop. Wispy white strings of light from the sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, will suddenly be visible. Lucky viewers may even spot a thin, reddish-pink circle around the edge of the moon. That’s the chromosphere, an atmospheric layer below the sun’s corona. Its color comes from the presence of hydrogen throughout the layer.

After totality, the sun will slowly peek out from behind the moon again — another partial eclipse that will last the same amount of time as the first one. The moon will recede until the sun is back to normal brightness in our sky.

How can I watch the solar eclipse safely?

In general, avoid looking directly at the sun without special equipment to protect your eyes. Inexpensive options for watching the eclipse include paper solar viewers and glasses. If you are using equipment purchased for a past solar eclipse, make sure to inspect it. Toss anything with scratches or other signs of damage.

According to NASA , it is not safe to look at the sun through any optical device while using paper glasses or viewers. To watch the eclipse through cameras, binoculars or telescopes, buy a special solar filter.

The only time you can view a solar eclipse with the naked eye is during the moments of totality. Once the moon begins to reveal the surface of the sun again, return to watching the event through protective equipment to avoid injury.

What happens if I look at the eclipse without protection?

In general, staring directly at the sun, even for a few seconds, can cause permanent damage to your eyes . This can range from blurry or distorted vision to something even more serious, like blind spots. Because there are no pain receptors in the retina, you won’t feel it while it’s happening.

The same is true during an eclipse — except during the brief moments of totality, when the moon has hidden the face of the sun. At all other times, use protective eye equipment to view the event.

What do I do if I can’t find eclipse glasses?

If it’s too late to get glasses or viewers, there’s always a do-it-yourself option: a pinhole camera to indirectly experience the eclipse. You can create one using cardstock , a cardboard box , a kitchen strainer or even your fingers . These designs project an image of the eclipse onto the ground or some other surface that is safe to look at.

Where are the best places to watch the eclipse?

The total eclipse will sweep across large portions of Mexico, the United States and eastern Canada. For the most dramatic show, it’s best to experience the eclipse along the path of totality , which is where the moon will completely blot out the sun.

The Path of the Eclipse

On April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross North America from Mazatlán, Mexico, to the Newfoundland coast near Gander, Canada. Viewers outside the path of the total eclipse will see a partial eclipse, if the sky is clear .

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Percentage of

the sun obscured

during the eclipse

Indianapolis

Little Rock

San Antonio

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Viewers near Mazatlán, a beach town on the Pacific shoreline of Mexico, will be the first place to experience totality on North America’s mainland. Various sites in Mexico along the eclipse’s path will experience the longest duration of totality — as long as four minutes and 29 seconds.

Cities across the United States, including Dallas, Indianapolis and Cleveland, will most likely be hot spots for the upcoming eclipse. Other notable locations include Carbondale, Ill., which also saw totality during the solar eclipse in 2017; small towns west of Austin, Texas, which are projected to have some of the best weather in the country along the eclipse path; and Niagara Falls, if the skies are clear. Six provinces of Canada are in the path of totality, but many of them have a very cloudy outlook.

When does the eclipse begin and end?

The show begins at dawn, thousands of miles southwest of the Pacific shore of Mexico. The moon starts to conceal the sun near Mazatlán at 9:51 a.m. local time. Viewers near Mazatlán will experience totality at 11:07 a.m. for four minutes and 20 seconds.

Then the moon’s shadow will swoop through Mexico, crossing over the Texas border at 1:10 p.m. Eastern time. Totality in the United States will start at 2:27 p.m. and end at 3:33 p.m. Eastern time.

Canadians will experience the solar eclipse in the afternoon for nearly three hours. The eclipse concludes beyond Canada’s boundaries when the sun sets over the Atlantic Ocean.

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How long will the eclipse last?

The duration of totality depends on how far a given location on Earth is from the moon. Places with the longest totality are closest to the moon and farther from the sun. The speed of the lunar shadow is slowest over spots with the longest totality.

In April, the longest period of totality will occur over Durango, a state in Mexico, for a total of four minutes and 29 seconds. Along the centerline, the location of shortest totality on land is on the eastern coast of Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, for about two minutes and 54 seconds. But totality is even shorter along the edges of the total eclipse path; in some places, it lasts less than a minute.

How fast does the eclipse move?

Solar eclipses may seem to happen slowly, but the moon’s shadow is racing across the surface of Earth. Exact speeds vary by location. Eclipse calculators estimate the shadow will move between about 1,560 and 1,600 m.p.h. through Mexico, and more than 3,000 m.p.h. by the time it exits the United States. The eclipse will reach speeds exceeding 6,000 m.p.h. over the Atlantic Ocean.

When was the last total solar eclipse in the United States?

According to the American Astronomical Society , total solar eclipses happen once every year or so, but they can only be viewed along a narrow path on Earth’s surface. Many occur over water or other places that can be difficult to reach. A given location will experience totality once in about 400 years.

But some places get lucky: Carbondale, a college town in southern Illinois, saw the total solar eclipse in the United States on Aug. 21, 2017, and will experience another one this April. San Antonio experienced an annular eclipse last October, and is also in the path of totality for this year’s eclipse.

Do other planets experience solar eclipses?

Yes, any planet in our solar system with a moon can experience a solar eclipse. In February, a Martian rover captured Phobos , one of the red planet’s moons, transiting the sun.

The moons on other planets, though, appear either smaller or larger than the sun in the sky . Only Earth has a moon just the right size and at just the right distance to produce the unique effects of totality.

How will things on Earth change during the eclipse?

As the eclipse approaches its maximum phase, the air will get cooler, the sky will grow dimmer, shadows will sharpen and you might notice images of crescents — tiny projections of the eclipse — within them. Along the path of totality, the world will go dark while the moon inches toward perfect alignment with Earth and the sun.

Animals will also react to the solar eclipse. Bees stop buzzing , birds stop whistling and crickets begin chirping. Some pets may express confusion . Even plants are affected, scientists found after the solar eclipse in 2017 . They have diminished rates of photosynthesis and water loss similar to, though not as extreme as, what happens at night.

What if I can’t get to the path of totality?

Viewers in locations away from the eclipse path will see the moon partially blot out the sun, though how perceptible the effects are depends on the site’s distance from the centerline. (The closer you are, the more remarkable it will be.) Still, it won’t be quite like experiencing the eclipse during totality.

Remember that you should always wear protective eye equipment while watching a partial eclipse.

If you can’t make it to the path of totality but still want to experience it, many organizations are providing live video streams of the eclipse, including NASA and Time and Date . The Exploratorium, a museum in San Francisco, will also offer a sonification of the eclipse and a broadcast in Spanish.

What have we learned from solar eclipses?

In the 1800s, a French astronomer discovered the element helium by studying the spectrum of sunlight emitted during an eclipse. These events also allowed the first scientific observations of coronal mass ejections — violent expulsions of plasma from the sun’s corona — which can cause power outages and communication disruptions on Earth. Scientists also confirmed Einstein’s theory of general relativity, which says that massive objects bend the fabric of space-time, during a solar eclipse in 1919.

And there is more to discover. This April, NASA plans to fly instruments on planes to capture images of the solar corona, and launch rockets to study how the drop in sunlight during an eclipse affects Earth’s atmosphere. A radio telescope in California will try to use the moon as a shield to measure emissions from individual sunspots .

The public is joining the fun, too. During the eclipse, a team of ham radio operators will beam signals across the country to study how solar disturbances can affect communications. Some people along the path of totality will record sounds from wildlife . Others will use their phones to snap pictures of the eclipse to help sketch out the shape of the solar disk .

An earlier version of this article referred imprecisely to eclipse on other worlds. Some appear larger than the sun in sky, they are not all partial eclipses.

How we handle corrections

Katrina Miller is a science reporting fellow for The Times. She recently earned her Ph.D. in particle physics from the University of Chicago. More about Katrina Miller

Politics live: Tractors descend on Westminster for protest - as 'appalling' Kate speculation criticised

Tractors have descended on Westminster for a protest over the government's farming policies since Brexit. Elsewhere, the deputy prime minister has criticised "appalling speculation" about the Princess of Wales's health - and warned of the threats posed by Chinese cyber campaigns.

Monday 25 March 2024 22:30, UK

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  • China blamed for 'malicious cyber campaigns'
  • Sunak urged to label Beijing a 'threat' after MPs targeted
  • Explained: What we know about attacks - and UK response
  • Sophy Ridge: China is a David vs Goliath fight we cannot win
  • PM facing another by-election as MP resigns
  • Tractors descend on Westminster for protest
  • 'Appalling speculation' about Princess of Wales criticised
  • Live updates by Faith Ridler and (earlier)  Tim Baker

One year ago, Rishi Sunak made five pledges for voters to judge him on.

The prime minister met his pledge to halve inflation by the end of 2023.

However, he is faring less well with his other pledges.

With the general election approaching, how is Mr Sunak doing on delivering his other promises?

You can see the progress for yourself below.

The Sky News live poll tracker - collated and updated by our Data and Forensics team - aggregates various surveys to indicate how voters feel about different political parties.

Labour is still sitting comfortably on a roughly 22-point lead, averaging at 44.5% in the polls, with the Tories on 22.8%.

In third is Reform UK on 11.7%, followed by the Lib Dems on 9.6%.

The Green Party stands at 6%, and the SNP on 2.9%.

See the latest update below - and you can read more about the methodology behind the tracker  here .

Before the government's announcement of sanctions against Chinese actors believed to have carried out cyber attacks against the UK, one of their targets vowed he "won't be bulled into silence".

Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith appeared at a news conference with fellow Beijing critics Tim Loughton and Stewart McDonald.

All three have been sanctioned by the Chinese government, notably for comments about alleged human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.

Sir Iain said they had suffered from harassment, impersonation, and attempted hacking for some time - you can watch some of his punchy media appearance below:

The Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill has just passed a vote for its third reading, effectively clearing the House of Commons and heading towards Royal Assent.

The bill, introduced by Lord Epsom, aims to amend a 2016 act of the same name, and "make provision about information supplied by, or relating to, the Judicial Commissioners".

It cleared the third reading in the Commons today with 257 ayes and 38 noes. 

The bill will now head to Final Stages, for the ultimate consideration of amendments before it receives Royal Assent and becomes law.

The government has for the very first time blamed China for a series of cyber attacks  - including MPs and the Electoral Commission.

What do we know about the cyber attacks being blamed on China?

The government has come out to blame "China state-affiliated" for a set of cyber attacks against the UK.

It falls short of directly blaming the Chinese government, but it is a very close thing, and it still places the onus on Beijing.

What was hacked - and were they successful?

The two incidents being blamed on China are an attack on the Electoral Commission (EC), and a set of more targeted incidents against China-sceptic parliamentarians.

The EC was first infiltrated in August 2021, but this was not detected until late 2022.

Details from the electoral roll were compromised, including names and addresses of tens of millions of people.

Many of these were already available publicly - but a substantial amount was also private.

The other attack, on parliamentarians, was unsuccessful.

Those targeted included former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former Conservative education minister Tim Loughton, crossbench peer Lord Alton of Liverpool, and SNP MP Stewart McDonald.

All are critics of the Chinese government and members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group of MPs from across the world who probe Beijing's activities.

Who was behind it?

The government is attributing the two attacks to different groups.

The attack on parliamentarians was carried out by the APT31 - a "China state-affiliated" group.

However, we have been told less about the attack on the EC.

All we know is the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) says it is "highly likely compromised by a China state-affiliated cyber entity".

What has the UK done about it?

It has now been announced the UK has sanctioned two individuals and one company linked to APT31.

But no one has been sanctioned for the hack on the EC.

Despite the hack on the EC being successful, the government is confident it will not impact the UK's elections.

A statement from the Foreign Office said: "Cumulative attempts to interfere with UK democracy and politics have not been successful."

In response, the UK's defences have been "bolstered", it added.

When David Cameron was prime minister, Oliver Dowden was one of his backroom fixers, first at Tory HQ and then in 10 Downing Street.

From his early days as a Tory researcher he's been known as "Olive" because of an office typo. But it's a nickname that's stuck, even now he's deputy prime minister.

Despite his rapid rise to near the top of British politics, he's been accused of a wooden persona and being accident prone. Harsh, but probably fair.

He told a US interviewer in 2012: "Most of my time is spent with day-to-day crisis management."

Whoops! He then laughed nervously and added: "We're not permanently in crisis!"

But his crisis management skills appear to have deserted him in his handling of the China cyber-hacking row as he endured a torrid time in the Commons.

You can read more from Jon below:

Today's big story from Westminster has been the UK government blaming China for a series of cyber attacks on British targets.

These included the Electoral Commission and several MPs.

Need a quick catch-up on all you need to know? Our science and technology editor Tom Clarke has you covered...

The government has today been urged to provide details of a compensation scheme for women affected by how state pension changes were communicated.

Last week, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) took the "rare but necessary" decision to ask parliament to intervene over complaints that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had failed to provide accurate, adequate and timely information about state pension reform.

MPs from all sides of the Commons urged Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride to provide details of a compensation scheme for Waspi women as quickly as possible.

Conservative MP Nigel Mills, a member of the Work and Pensions Committee, told the Commons: "I think this issue has gone on long enough, and we need now to choose a compensation scheme and get this issue finished."

He asked if the government will have "made its mind up" before an autumn fiscal event, but Mr Stride suggested he wasn't sure if one would even take place.

Conservative former minister John Penrose said "speed is vital" in the government's response to the issue of compensation.

Read more on the Waspis and their campaign from our political reporter Jennifer Scott :

As seen in our previous post, farmers have descended on Westminster in huge numbers for a demonstration in their tractors.

They are looking to raise awareness of problems they have with the government's post-Brexit agriculture trade deals and policies, which have seen farmers grapple with "substandard imports and dishonest labelling".

The pictures below show the scene in Westminster tonight…

Farmers are staging a protest in central London at the moment, having turned up to the Houses of Parliament en masse… in their tractors.

They are demonstrating against "substandard imports and dishonest labelling" they warn are threatening food security.

The campaign groups Save British Farming and Fairness for Farmers of Kent are taking part in a "go-slow" convoy and drive around Westminster, with organisers expecting 50 to 100 tractors as well as other farm vehicles this evening.

Hopefully it doesn't harm our team's - and our guests' - hopes of getting home from tonight's instalment of Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge .

All being well, we'll be back again tomorrow.

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COMMENTS

  1. Space Travel and Health

    Space Travel and Health reading practice test has 14 questions belongs to the Recent Actual Tests subject. In total 14 questions, 5 questions are YES-NO-NOT GIVEN form, 5 questions are Matching Headings form, 2 questions are Sentence Completion form, 2 questions are Summary, form completion form.

  2. Exploring Space

    Exploring Space. Space is considered the last great frontier. Since the beginning of time, humans have looked up with wonder at the stars, moon, sun, and vastness of the heavens. This reading set covers some of the "firsts" in space exploration and some passages to encourage your student to wonder about other worlds.

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    ReadWorks is an edtech nonprofit organization that is committed to helping to solve America's reading comprehension crisis. ... These texts have been paired because they both address the topic of space travel. Details: NJ Physics Professor Has the "Right Stuff" Science: Earth & Space Science Skills & Strategies: Main Idea Grade: 7 ...

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    IELTS Reading Passage: Space travel and health. Space travel and health. A. Both in the United States and Europe, space biomedicine is a relatively new field of study. Its primary goals are to investigate how space travel affects the human body, pinpoint the most pressing medical issues, and come up with solutions for those issues. NASA and/or ...

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    The Art of Space Travel is an outstanding collection of short stories: some are speculative, some are not, some blur the lines, all are written in a rich and engaging style that makes each and every character feel like a fully-formed human being. That's all anyone else really needs to know; the rest of this review is for me. There's rarely any point in reading a book review written by ...

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    Exploring Space Travel kids' book from the leading digital reading platform with a collection of 40,000+ books from 250+ of the world's best publishers. Read now on Epic. Instantly access Exploring Space Travel plus over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids.

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    Travel to the Moon, Mars, and beyond will require new systems to provide medical care far from Earth. Learn more about the changes humans may undergo during spaceflight, as well as the steps NASA takes to keep astronauts healthy and safe. NASA astronaut and Flight Engineer Andrew Morgan flexes his muscles in an airlock of the space station.

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    Space Travel And Health Reading Answers. Space biomedicine is a relatively new area of research both in the USA and in Europe. Its main objectives are to study the effects of space travel on the human body, identify the most critical medical problems, and find solutions to those problems. Space biomedicine centers are receiving increasing ...

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